Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-18
CROSBY PROPOSES
new TRIAL BOARD
Second Group, With Civilians,
to Probe All Complaints
Against Force Asked.

Creation of an entirely new Police
Trial Board to handle cases resulting
from complaints made by citizens Is
contemplated, Gen. Herbert B. Crosby,
Police Commissioner, revealed today.
Under this radical departure from the
much-criticized set-up Of disciplinary
machinery In vogue In the department
during recent years. the present So
called "all-police" board would continue
TO function. but q great many Of its
duties would be assumed by q new trial
board comprised Of two civilians and
one policeman.
81 am not dissatisfied with the per-
sonnet Of the present board, but am
most dissatisfied with the results they
have been obtaining" Gen. Crosby said.
something is terribly wrong with the
present system, aud remedy must be
found he added.
Would Have Two Boards.
az have been studying the whole mat
Ter for several weeks and have several
important changes under consideration.
They must, Of course be considered by
the fun board. am uncertain when I
win complete my study and lay my
Recommendation before the other Com
missioners."
Observers pointed out, however, that
the personal views OF the police Conn
missioner on matters directly concern
g.. I'D ..Vu,ra AaVRa r-fv1aar1f carry great
weight with his fellow Commissioners.
Under the present Crosby plan, roti-
tine cases involving mere infraction OF
regulations governing the conduct OF
policemen would be inquired into by q
board tantan1ount to the present Trial
Board Of one police inspector and two
police captains.
Group Asked for Complaints.
Every case involving . complaint
against q policeman by citizen, how
ever, would be delved into by the new
mixed board of two civilian executives
Of the District Government and one
police officer. The new inquisitorial
body also would be available to delve
into any cases of an outstanding nature
which ordinarily would be assigned to
the strictly police board.
Our problem Gen. Crosby ex-
planned, isn't one involving the rules
of evidence; it is more question Of q
lack of evidence and testimony of the
proper nature. There seems to be
among citizens generally tendency to
avoid appearing before the Police Trial
Board as now constituted. believe
such hesitancy would be curbed If we
had q mixed board. Then We probably
wouldn't have so many originally vio-
lent complaints which eliminated with
the compliments ultimately refusing
to testify against the policeman"
Endorses Bride Proposal.
Gen. Crosby also Endorsed recon-
mendations of William w. Bride, cor
poration counsel, calling for legislation
under which the Police Trial Board
would be given authority to compel
testimony Of witnesses and under which
the Commissioners would be provided
with q special force Of investigators
who might be used to inquire into the
affairs Of any department Of the Dis
trict government.
The Commissioner pointed out no
legislation would be needed TO establish
a second trial board.
The Commissioners have the power
to form as many trial boards as they
wish" he remarked.
Discuss Discipline.
Discussing the ever-present problem
Of preventing obscure priyates from
going mad with q false sense Of
authority, Gen., Crosby drew on his
experience as an Army officer TO put
across his views.
I'm the Army" he said, "a corporal
has less authority than any other nom
commissioned or commissioned officer
Still, they often 60 'haywire' because
OF an exaggerated idea of their own
Importance. That's why after picking
corporal I always gave him hell at
every opportunity for three months"
Gen. Crosby emphasized his belief
that it would be unfair and impractical
TO permit civilians 70 try policemen for
violations involving only policemen.
I'm reminded" he reminisced, "of
| the civilian lawyer appearing before an
Army court-martiai board who insisted
on referring TO an officer as a soldier
and Who, after being reprimanded,
made 3 remark concerning this officer
who Is not soldier"