Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
EDWARDS SLATED
TO FILL VACANCY
LEFT BY SHELBY
Reorganization to Mark
Debut of Gen. GIassford
as Police Head.
WILL ASSUME DUTIES
TOMORROW MORNING
Crosby Studies Changes Affecting
Precinct Areas and De.
tective Bureau.

Widespread reorganization Of the
Metropolitan Police Department, In
volving the headquarters Detective
Bureau, the recently created inspec-
ton districts, and the various precincts,
II was learned last night, Is scheduled
to mark the debut Of Brig. Gen. Pelham
d. Glassford as major and superin-
tendent.
With brief ceremonies, Gen. Glass
ford is to be indicted into ONCE tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock, and soon
afterward, definite steps are to be taken
to readjust the force into a more ef-
fective and efficient organization. Many
of the details of the program already
have been worked out and need only
the approval of the District Commits
sioners to make them effective. Other
changes have been left to the judgment
of Gen. GlasSford.
Edwards To Be Aide.
First and foremost on the program is
the appointment of q successor to In
spector William S. Shelby, who re-
tired November with Gen Glassfords
predecessor, Maj. Henry @. Pratt. Ac-
cording to reliable reports, Inspector
Shelby's position is to be fiiled by the
promotion Of Capt. L. !. H. Edwards,
popular personnel officer of the depart
ment, whose rise in the ranks in the
last few years has been meteoric.
Another vacancy in the staff Of in
spectors to be caused by the retire.
ment December Of Louis J. stoll is
Glassford, it is understood, will be
asked to select his own candidate for
this position, and indications are he
will study available eligibles before
making the appointment.
The reorganization will be accom-
panied by numerous personnel changes
all designed in the interest Of In
creased efficiency and effectiveness.
Names Of only few Of the officers to
be affected have been revealed, I'm
ofacially, but persistent reports are to
the effect that nearly all precincts are
70 be involved 20 some extent.
Burke Plan Before Crosby.
Changes contemplated in the organic
zation Of the Detective Bureau are said
to be revolutionary. The plan for the
new set-up, representing the IDEAS Of
Inspector Frank 8. W. Burke, chief Of
detectives, already is before Police
Commissioner Herbert b. Crosby.
The Commissioner also has under
consideration plan Of Inspector e. w.
Brown, acting superintendent, for q
readjustment Of the geographical boun-
daries Of several precincts, and removal
of the headquarters OF the second In
the tenth precinct station. Inspector
Brown recommended the boundary
changes solely in the interest Of q more
equitable equalization. of territories COW
cred by the different precincts.
The territorial limits Of the second
precinct would be materially reduced
under Inspector Browns plan, by shift
ing portions to the adjoining third and
tenth precincts. The precinct now, in
the opinion OF the inspector, is too large
for ef1cient supervision and control,
covering as it does the entire area
bounded on the north generally by Euclid
street, on the east by Michigan avenue.
on the south by K street and on the
west by Rock Greek.
Plan Capitalization.
Details that have leaked out with
respect to proposed changes in the De-
tective Bureau reveal that Inspector
Burke has planned to- centralize the
activities OF his unit along lines Of
more modern police administration
Only special squads would be stationed
at headquarters. other detectives being
assigned to work in the inspection dis
tricts, where they would devote full
time to the investigation Of cases aris-
ing In the territories in which they
were assigned.
The important homicide squad, under
the plan, would continue to operate d.
rectly out OF headquarters. The auto
mobile and vice squads also would re-
main there, but men assigned to less
important duties such as bad check,
larceny and missing person investiga-
IONS, would be detailed to the i1spec-
ton districts
The plan, it is understood, also con-
templates the organization Of several
new squads which would be attached
to headquarters. One would be q hold
up and pickpocket squad, and the other
so-called out-of-town squad, which
would devote its time to service OF fugi-
i've warrants, and bringing back to
washington prisoners arrested for the
Dlstrlct police In other Jurisdictions.
Sweeney to Head Squad.
Detective Sergt Thomas J. Sweeney,
II Is said, probably will be put In COM
mand OF the new hold-up squad. He
VIII nave associated with him Detective
Sergt. Michael j. Dowd, Joseph
Waidron and H. P. Brodie. Detectives
Rlchard j. Cox and A. d. Mansfield
likely will compose the out-of-town
squad.
The time-honored morning roll call
at the Detective Bureau would be
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