Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28
Nspoleon and the Police.

II one Napoleonic maxim has been
followed In recognizing the police
force so that no man will command
more than 1--WE units, another one sug-
gests itself as appropriate, to wit, that
Providence is on the side Of the heaviest
artillery, with such modern additions
as the best identification Bureau, the
best trained detective force and the
most intelligent and alert personnel.
And Commissioner Crosby's efforts to
improve the police force lead one to
the belief that before he retires he viii
have won Providence to his side. He
has avoided fiash-in-the-pan gestures
and his statements and actions have
come only after well considered deliber-
alton.
His reorganization Of the force along
the lines Of the Army's chief admins
trative unit, the regiment, is based on
common sense as well as study Of
Napoleon. What the Commissioners is
striving for is greater efficiency, and by
a wider distribution of authority and
responsibility among the higher ofncials
OF thu department., permitting closer
attention 70 detailed supervision Of sub
ordinate personnel, and resting more
discretion in the hands Of officers re-
garding disciplinary measures, the COM
missioner should get 1t.
Under the old system the city was
cut In two, for police administration
purposes, by Seventh street. One in
spector commanded the precincts TO the
west and another one had charge Of
those to the east. OF the four remain
ing inspectors. one had to divide his
duties between the supervision Of the
Detective Bureau and the general SUI
pegyision, likewise, as assistant superin-
tendent Of all the uniformed forces.
Another was in charge Of uniforms and
equipment, another was In charge OF
the Police Trafhc Bureau and the re-
naming one in charge Of the central
vice squad.
Under the reorganization Inspector
Shelby, As assistant superintendent, viii
be the departments executive officer,
carrying out the policies Of the super
intendent and generally fulfilling the
functions Of the Lieutenant colonel. in
the regiEnental organization of the
Army. In respect to his colonel" the
superintendent Of police. Three In
spectors win have charge Of three pla-
toons. or groupings. Of precincts, cor
responding generally to the battalion
organization in the Army and its COM
ponent companies. The fifth inspector
win remain In charge Of trafhc work,
and the sixth In charge Of vice squad
work. Merger Of several precincts will
release higher officer personnel, to be
available for staff duty under the pla-
toon commanders. There viii continue
70 be such independent units as the
vice squads, the traffic squad and the
Detective Bureau.
As the Commissioner points out, the
aim is to apply the well known doc
trine that efficiency depends more upon
close and well trained supervision than
on the rank and file. His plan will
permit closer supervision by officers
whose experience is too valuable to al
low them, as heretofore, to be tied
down TO desk work. Authority will be
decentralized, but at the same time
specifically defined.
After the perfection Of the smooth
functioning organization that for adj
niinistratiye purposes is desirable,
Commissioner Crosby win doubtless ex-
tend his reforms to the establishment
OF better equipped training schools for
the rookie" policemen and for the
specialists that a modern force de-
mands, concentrating. the while, on the
discipline and development OF esprit de
corps that make for efficiency.