Evening star., 1932-10-21
Davis Also Under Considera-
ton, However, for Glass
ford'S Post.
QUICK CHOICE SOUGHT
TO FORESTALL POLITICS
Commissioners Have for Month
Past Studied Appointment to
Police Superintendency.

appoint this afternoon successor tt
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, who
resigned suddenly yesterday after g
spectacular 11-month career as major
and superintendent of the metropolitan
Police Department.
The new superintendent is to be Sc
lected from the ranks of the depart
ment, although the Commissioners have
not yet definitely made a choice. In
spector E. w. Brown, senior assistant
superintendent, is understood to have
the best chance of getting the appoint
ment. The Commissioners, however
have also given serious consideration
to naming Inspector o. T. Davis, who
three weeks ago was removed by Gen
Glassford as head of the Crime Pre-
vention Bureau and placed in COM
mand of the second inspection district
Would Avoid Politics.
Decision to fill the vacancy at the
head Of the Police Department without
further delay was reached by the Com
missioners for the primary purpose OF
forestalling a flood of applications fol-
the job and eliminating inevitable po-
litical interference.
Careful consideration. however. has
been given TO the ranking officers in
the department who are qualified for
promotion, SO the selection will not be
the result of hasty action For more
than month, it Is understood, the
Commissioners have given some thought
to men in the department who would
be capable of taking over the super
ntendency in the event of the resigna-
ton of Gen. Glassford
Inspector Brown is known to enjoy
the confidence and respect of the Com
missionerS and has already demon
strated his ability to command the de-
partment by acting as superintendent In
the absence of Gen. Glassford and his
predecessor. Maj. Henry G. Pratt.
Brown Now Acting Major.
Inspector Brown is commander of the
Traffic Bureau. and by virtue of his
rank as senior assistant superintendent
is now acting major and superintendent
He has an eXcellant record of service ir
the department and is said to be will
ing to accept the promotion If it is
offered
Brown has the support Of a number
Of civic and business leaders, and this
morning Mrs. Frederic Newburgh, rep
resenting the Women's Christian Tenn.
rerance Union and the Federation oi
Women'S Clubs, inquired at the District
Building what could be done to heir
Brown to get the promotion Mrs
Newburgh said the two organizations
represented 1000 families in the Dis
trict.
The Commissioners will meet at 2:3C
O'Clock, and indications are that the new
superintendent will be named shortly
afterward. Neither Brown nor Davi!
has been invited to the meeting, mol
have they been given any intimatior
that their names are officially under
consideration for the position.
The only question to be considered by
the Commissioners in connection with
the appointment of Brown is whether
the post of superintendent should be
given to man who under the retire
ment regulations must leave the depart
ment in five years. Brown IS SO years
old and he will be forced to retire at ga
Inspector Davis is 54 years old, ano
has 10 years Of service ahead OF him
before retirement. This is one factor
in his favor.
Dcak Denies Backing Davis.
Secretary OF Labor Doak today denied
reports that he had given his support
to Inspector Davis.
Pending the appointment of the new
superintendent. Capt. Edward j. Kelly
will remain IN his present temporary
position as commander of the Crime
Prevention Bureau, although he has re-
ouested a transfer to a precinct COM
mand. Kelly is an unfortunate victim
of the sudden developments in the
Police Department which deprived him
of an impending promotion to chief ol
detectives
Gen. Glassford relieved Kelly Of his
command of the third precinct tc
stand by at administrative headquar-
tiers to await the removal of Inspector
Frank s. w. Burke. At that time Gen
Glassford proposed to have him elevated
to the rank of inspector and assist
ant superintendent to succeed Burke
Realizing that the plan would not be
carried out now with Gen. Glassforc
out of the department, Kelly asked tt
be transferred back to precinct. Hf
did not specifically request his former
command at No. 8, but it is known HI
would like to return there.
All of Gen. Glassford's personal file.
and property were removed today from
the superintendent's Office at police
headquarters, to make way for his sue
cessor. Inspector Brown occupied tn.
Office.
Inspector Edwards returned today
from a motor trip to Ohio which was
abruptly halted in McConnellsville, Pa.
by telegraphic order. Edwards sale
he was called back by illness of hi.
prandchild. and not because of develop.
noentS in the Police Department