Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-07

Police Department Makes
Report Showing Results
of Years Activities.

More than 100000 persons, a number
equivalent to one-fifth of the entire
population of the city, were arrested
in Washington for all manner OF
ofTenses during the past year, according
to the latest annual report of Lieut.
L. l. H Edwards, statiStician of the
Metropolitan Police Department.
The total of arrests was 110.763, OF
these, traffic violators led all others,
47,384 motorists being taken into GUS
tody for some infraction of the traffic
rules.
Next In line came 1924 arrests Tor
intoXication.
In connection with prohibition en-
forcement police made 6,l32 arrests and
seized 109,224 gallons of mash, 1881
quarts of whisky, 26,934 bottles of beer,
Ii, 1868 quarts of alcohol, 2,048 gallons
of wine, 1.139 quarts of brandy, 1922
quarts Of gin, 276 quarts Of rum, 81
gallons Of cider, ga stills and sol
vehicles.
There were 5.526 traffic accidents. 81
persons dying in consequence. Other
sections of his report show there were
ii murders lis deaths from miScel-
laneous accidents. 107 suicides and
2,874 non-fatal instances of traffic
injuries.
In summarizing the work OF the
police, officials OF the department eN-
pressed the belief that its showing for
the year has been satisfactory.
Murders Solved
Bright spots in the years record in
clude tie work of the homicide squad
in scoring close to 100 per cent in
solving murders, the record of approx
mately 90 per cent recovery of stolen
cars by the automobile squad and the
alert work of the clothing squad.
Practically no changes of Importance
we're made in the personnel of the de-
partment during the year, nor was the
force increased, Congress having made
no provision for additional men. In
spector Henry G. Pratt, assistant chief
Of police and chief of detectives, re-
commended an increase of so detectives,
the appointeeS to serve probationary
period.
Provision is made for a detective
force of so, but the detail of several
members to other work reduces the
number to as. In making the recon-
mendation for an increase. Inspector
Pratt pointed out that there were more
than $4,000 assignments TO be mvesti-
gated by his force, the number being
more than the force could properly in
vestigate He thinks the population
justifies the employment of q force of
100 men. and Maj. Edwin B. HesSe,
chief of police, has approved his sug-
geStion.
There were eight deaths among police
during the year Two resulted from
injuries received in line of duty, one
committed suicide and the remainder
resulted from natural causes. Lieut..
w. F. Hess of the harbor precinct was
the only one to die who held rank
above that of private James G. Helm
and Claude O. Rupe, motor cycle police
men, were the ones who lost their lives
in line of duty, each beinr killed as a
result of his motor cycle coming in
contact with other vehicles while in
pursuit of alleged rum cars. w. N.
Still was the one who committed sui
eide. Others who died were E. F,
Floegel, Michael E. Hagan, Detective
Patrick O'Brien and A. l.. Lewis.
Members of the three special squads
of detectives, one specializing in the in
vestigation of homicideS, another in in
vestigation of clothing thefts, and the
third in connection with the passing OF
bad checks, succeeded in making salts