Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-18
PRATT MAKES PLEA
FOR POLICE SCHOOL
rs Additional Officers Asked
to Permit Training of
Recruits for Force.

A plea for rs additional policemen in
order to establish school for the train
ing of the younger men on the force
without reducing the number now on
patrol duty was made to the Senate
subcommittee on District appropria-
tons by Maj. Henry G. Pratt, super
intendent. 1t is disclosed in the hear
ing made public yesterday. This was
an original recommendation of the
Commissioners, but was not allowed by
the budget.
After Maj. Pratt had outlined what
other large cities are doing in the
training of new policemen, Senator
Bingham expressed the hope that you
will be able to give all of your new
officers at least two months training
before you put them on the street and
give them badge of authority" Mem
bers of the subcommittee did not in
dictate during the hearings, however,
whether the additional men would be
allowed.
What is the practice in Washing
ton now?" Senator Bingham inquired.
Practice Is Described.
1.-THE majority of our men," said Maj.
Pratt, 'are sworn in and given baton
and badge and told to go out and en-
force the law, and they know nothing
in the world about it. We attempted
for years to maintain school of six
months during the year. In running
this school there was a 30-day period
for each class. We tried to train the
men who had not ha draining, and the
result is the we have had men five
years on the force who had not
been in the school until last year,
and We have wound that up now; and
in the present class We have put in
have had no service on the streets. That
is the first time in the history of the
department"
Senator Bingham also questioned
Maj. Pratt regarding the House pro-
vision that hereafter all appointees to
the force must have an eighth grade
education. The major favored raising
the educational qualifications. but sug-
geSted 1t be made to read eighth grade,
or its equivalent"
Senator Bingham asked what were
the educational attachments of the men
most recently appointed to the force,
| and Maj. Pratt, after inquiry in the de-
| partment, reported to the Senators that
of the "a men appointed during the
! past year 5 had been to college or uni
J yersity, to normal school, 81 to high
school and 20 to graded school. OF the
last group IL had gone to the eighth
| grade, to the seventh grade, to the
sixth grade and l had attended the
| fourth grade. Lieut.. Joseph Morgan,
| liaiSon officer, reported OH April l there
were seven vacancies on the force, with
no eligible list except two, who declined
| appointment until later date.
Difficulties Are Shown.
"Is it any more difficult to obtain
! first-class men in the police service
than it was, say 25 or 80 years ago."
! Senator Capper asked.
! Maj. Pratt think could best an
Swer that question by stating the fact
that we had comparatively little trouble
with the men who were appointed years
ago. 1t is fact that the men who are
coming into the department now cause
our trouble; the men who have come
| in since the war, 1 will say.
IT mean" Maj Pratt continued, "they
come to us, and apparently they are
desirable material, but it is more diff
cult TO make them behave after coming
! to u.s."
Asked by Senator Jones, Republican,
of Washington, what he meant by 1.-The
equivalent" of an eighth-grade educa-
ton. Maj. Pratt said a man may have
served IN the Army or Navy and by his
own efforts have acquired greater ed
ucation than he might have received
in the eighth grade of school, but the
House bill would keep him off the force
If he could not show he had been
through the eighth grade.
Senator Kendrick. Democrat Wyo-
ming, agreed with Maj. Pratt when the
police chief voiced the belief that in
many cases of violation of minor Of
lenses word of warning is better than
taking a man to court.