Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
CYCLE PATROLMEN
ARE TO Be UNITED
September viii Mark Com
pIetion of Move Begun
Last Year.

The consolidation of all of the motor
cycle patrols now attached to the vari-
GUS outlying police precincts under
control of the Traffic Bureau prob
ably will be a reality early in Septem-
Der, according to plans of the Police
Department
This has been facilitated by the
recent move of the Traffic Bureau to its
present quarters at 462 Louisiana aie-
nue. and the move of the rest of the
Police Department to the same build
ing, which is expected to be accom-
plished this week. Near to the
Louisiana avenue building there is a
garage on alley property, now owned BY
the District The garage is at present
used by baking concern, which rents
1t from the District Notice has been
served to vacate the garage, however
and 1t will be used to house the motor
cycles when they are not in use.
Double Duty for Cycle.
A new system will be put into effect
whereby the motor cycle officer, after a
trick of duty, will return the motor to
the garage instead of riding it home, as
at present. This will allow q second
officer to use the same motor cycle for
the succeeding tour of duty, or at least
1t will insure better care of the motor
cycle, since it may be repaired, oiled and
so forth by the mechanics at the garage
without having to be brought in special
ly for the purpose.
Another new scheme to be tried out
is to place on each motor cycle brake
testing device. Whenever an officer
sees an accident or other event which
leads him to suspect that the brakes on
NJ nHYkr 40 1af % flNa off
required standard, he can make an inn
mediate test. At present these devices
are kept at the Traffic Bureau, and to
make the brake test the car suspected
of being improperly equipped must be
taken there, often from the outlying
edge of the District, before the charge
of bad brakes" can be made out.
First Step Last Year.
The contemplated step of centralizing
all motor cycle activities of the depart
ment is but logical conclusion OF an
other taken last year. Following a
public clamor about sudden outbreak
of traffic accidents. Maj, Henry, g.
Pratt, superintendent of police, took 10
motor cycle officers away from the
precincts and assigned them tempo
rarily to Inspector Ernest w. Brown, in
charge of the Traffic Bureau, for
campaign against violatorS OF the tratnc
laws. The arrangement proved such
an instantaneous success that after the
emergency" had passed, and the rate
of incidence of traffic accidents had re-
turned to normal, the temporary assign
ment was made permanent.
Much of the work formerly done by
the motor cycle men in the outlying
precincts is now done by men in light
automobiles. Motor cycles are used
nowaday chiefly in escort work, OF
which the department is called upon to
perform a large amount, and sending
one or two men to special gatherings
such as those at athletic tournaments
and the like.
Light Car Service.
When the cherry blossom crowd ar
riyes every Spring motor cycle men line
the arteries leading to Potomac Park.
But for the regular patrol work the light
car has proved more satisfactory.
At about the same time that this
change goes into effect the light car Is
about to invade another field-that OF
the foot patrolman. All foot patrol work
in the second precinct is to be abolished
early next month and in its place will
be substituted motor patrol. Seven
light automobiles will be driven around
by privates who have heretofore pound
ed the pavements. This is an expert
ment which will spread to other pre-
cinctS If it proves successful.