Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
Bean to Give Squad" First
Instructions at Offices
Tomorrow.
DUPLICATE EFFORT
WILL BE ELIMINATED
Coordination of Activity Will In
crease Efficiency, Authorities
Believe.

Washington's new rum and vice
squad will assemble at 8 o'clock tomor-
row morning at Police Headquarters
to receive its first instructions from its
commander, Inspector Thaddeus r,
Bean. 1t was created yesterday by
Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent
OF police, abolishing the old vice and
rum squads and setting I'D a new de-
tail directly under Inspector Bean.
Police officials emphasized that the
step marks much greater recognition
OF the Importance of the work of en-
forcing the laws relating to liquor,
gambling and vice than has attached TO
1t heretofore. In the past it has been
largely IN the hands of two squads,
headed by sergeants.
Eliminates Double Efforts.
The step Of putting the entire work
into the hands of an inspector, 1t was
pointed out, was designed to centralize
and coordinate the work, which has
before sometimes been carried on by
the two squads at cross purposes. It
also Is designed to avoid crossing Of
the trails of the regular Federal pro-
hibition men, which Is understood to
have occurred at times with embarrass-
ing results.
According to officials, strong effort
viii be made, under the new regime, to
take to court only cases which are de-
scribed In the order as bona fide"-
That Is, cases where the evidence Is
properly prepared and presented, and
where there will be no technical faults
IN the matter OF procuring search war
rants or other miSsteps which so often
now cause cases to be thrown out Of
court before reaching a trial on the
merits.
Bean is admonished in Mai. Pratt's
orders to establish and maintain a
close, intimate contact with prosecuting
omcers to the end that such instruc-
tions as may be given by such prescott.
ing omcerS or the courts from time 10
Tune as to evidence necessary to convict
be secured in order that bona fide cases
only may be presented and prosecution
thereof sustained"
Precinct Duties Remain.
The creation Of this centralized force
| according to Maj. Pratt, does not mean
that the duties Of the captains of the
various precincts or their responsible
ties are in any way lessened. He said
1t relieves them only of the special in
tenslve labor OF investigating and work.
ing up cases In these fields.
They are instructed to report to the
new detail in writing any case Of sus-
pected violation of the laws and regula-
tons relating to liquor, vice and
gambling coming to their attention.
whether through observation and In
quiry on the part Of policemen or
through the complaints Of citizens.
In order that none Of these COM
plants may be lost In the shuttle, Bean
Is instructed to set up O fle, properly
lnIAYAH RnrNCtff11ffV1op
OF every complaint received, the action
thereon, and the results obtained.
Precinct detectives, who in the past
have carried large share of the bur-
den of the liquor investigation work,
were ordered by the police superintend-
ent to conflne their activities to such
complaints as shall be assigned to them
by their precinct commanders or from
headquarters. They are ordered, how.
ever, TO make arrests and prosecute all
violations Of the law coming to their
personal attention, reporting the results
OF their action to the new detail.
Personnel Of Squad.
The personnel of the new squad Is
as follows:
Sergt. George M. Little. TrafBc
Bureau, former head of the rum squad:
Sergt. j. r. Leach, former head of the
vice squad, and the following privates:
George G. Deyoe, Trafflc Bureau; R. T.
Joiner, Traffic Bureau; r. Schleichert,
No. s; j. K. Baker, No. IL; T. o. Mont
gomery, Traffic Bureau; G. C. McCar-
ron, No. 6; F. A. Truscott No. 4; F. o.
Brass, No. 3; Joseph De Palma, No. IA;
p. F. Lewis, No. 13; Thomas McVearry,
No. S; W. S. Smoot, No. 10; E. G,
O'Meara, No. 6; E. L. Shelton, No. 2;
N. @. Thayer, No. A. G.. E. Thornton,
No. 8; H. G. Wanamaker, No. /; C. H.
Warder, No. IL; r. A. Williams, No. 8;
w. r. Wrenn, No. Z.
The shift In the vice squad activities
has been reported on the calendar for
some time. but 1t was not generally
known that the change would be as
comprehensive as the one finally de-
cided upon. Commissioner Herbert B.
Crosby is known to have taken q keen
interest In the matter. particularly re-
Gently during the agitation over the
bonds required by defendants in liquor
cases.
He has made frequent visits 10 in
spector Pratt at Police Headquarters
and has had long talks with him, almost