Evening star., 1931-06-19
VAN W|NKLE PLAN
| OF PERPETUAT|NG
BUREAU OPPOSED
Crosby Says PoIiceWomen
Will Not Be Abolished and
Lauds Efficiency.
LAW STATUS LACKING
FOR OTHER BRANCHES
Rank and Pay Justified by Size Of
Personnel-Comparisons
Pointed Out.

Plans of Lieut.. Nina c. Van Wrinkle
director of the Woman's Bureau of the
Police Department, to have her bureau
established by law and the member
given the rank and pay similar to those
in other police bureaus, are destined tt
be blocked at the District Building, Il
was indicated today by Commissioner
Herbert 3. Crosby.
The Womans Bureau exists by order
of the District Commissioners, and Mrs
Van Wrinkle thinks 1t should be given 6
permanent status by Congress. Sh'
also believes the director should have
the rank and pay OF an inspector.
But Commissioner Crosby think:
otherwise. He said he could see M
need or justification to give the bureau
a permanent status in law, since othel
bureaus of the Police Department were
not established in law. but also are
creatures of the Commissioners. More.
over, he believes the rank of lieutenant
is high enough for the director Of the
Woman's Bureau because OF the COM
paratively small personnel 1t carries.
Reinsurance Of Crosby.
Commissioner Crosby, however, de-
clared Mrs Van Wrinkle need have nc
fear that the present Board of Com
missioners will take any steps TO have
the Woman's Bureau abolished. He
said he considered this bureau an i'm
portant adjunct to the Police Depart
ment, serving a useful and worthwhile
purpose. incidentally. this Is the nrs'
time Gen. Crosby has expressed his
views on the Woman's Bureau since he
became police commissioner more than
a year ago.
"I am in hearty sympathy with the
Woman'S Bureau and its work" de-
clared Gen. Crosby, "and Mrs. Var
Wrinkle has nothing to worry about
I haven't yet discussed with her the
proposal to give the bureau a perma-
nent status and the members a rank
equal to those in other police bureaus
The Detective Bureau and the Traffic
Bureau, both larger than the Woman's
Bureau. are not established in law
and can be abolished by order OF the
Commissioners"
The Traffic Bureau and the Detec-
tive Bureau are commanded by inspec-
tors. It was pointed out, however, that
Inspector E. W. Brown. in charge OF
the Traffic Bureau. has l8O men under
his supervision. while the Detective Blu
reau carries a roster Of approximately
100 The Woman's Bureau, 1t was
said, has an authorized personnel OF 80
including the director.
HarbOr Precinct Size.
The harbor precinct, police officials
declared, is comparable in size with
the Woman's Bureau, and its COM
mander has the rank of lieutenant
Therefore. they contend. it would be
unfair to give the director of the. Wom-
ans Bureau the rank of inspector until
the personnel and responsibilities in
crease to comparable basis with the
Traffic or Detective Bureaus.
Mrs. Van Wrinkles recent lament over
the failure of any member Of her bu-
reau to get a promotion in 10 years i
no fault of the Police Department. &C
cording to Maj. Henry @. Pratt. super
intendent. He said promotions art
made as the result of competitive ex
aminations conducted by the Civil Serv,
ice Commission, and no members of tht
Woman's Bureau had taken the test!
to certify for advancement.