Evening star., 1932-10-10
G[ASSFORD DRIVE
+ IS EXTENDED TO
POLICE PR|VATES
Chief Launches Personal In.
spection of Men and Equip.
ment at Precincts.
REGARDED SIGNIFICANT
BY MOST OF OFFICERS
Veterans Declare Examination
Most Thorough of It's Kind
in Their Memory.

Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford's
campaign for efficiency and discipline
in the Police Department, brought to
public notice recently by drastic shake
ups" among high police officials, was
extended today to the private in the
ranks.
With military precision and pro-
ficiency, the police superintendent
launched personal inspection of men
and equipment of all precincts. Veteran
policemen, after undergoing a rigid in
spection at the first precinct. declared
1t was the most thorough examination
OF its kind in their memory.
The inspection, described as "rou-
tine" found the entire department "on
its toes" as result of the recent series
of fiare-ups growing out of Glassfords
move to oust Inspector Frank S. w.
Burke from the Detective Bureau and
his earlier transfer of Inspector o. T.
Davis from the Crime Prevention Bu-
reau to the precincts. Rumors of an
impending revolt" among the men IN
protest over Burke's custer prompted
Glassford to make an investigation
with view to punishment of the insti-
gators.
Uncommon Significance.
Whatever the feeling of the men in
the ranks may be, they hid them today
behind an impressive military front that
brought commentator from their su-
perintendent. The full commands Of
the first and second precincts were
lined up on the street outside their
station houses for the inspections.
This may have been routine" in
spection that is an annual custom, but
after Gen. Glassford had completed his
detailed and careful scrutiny of each
man, from head to toes, and of his
arms and other equipment, the occa-
sion assumed uncommon significance
in the minds of most of the officers.
Makes Minute Examination.
Not content to pass hurriedly up and
down the ranks in cursory manner,
Gen. GlssStord halted frequently to
examine guns. caps. uniforms and shoes
Of the men lined up before him. He
cooked ard knocked pistols and sighted
down their barrels to see if they were
clean. He looked to see if badges were
| polished, if trousers were pressed and
neat and if shoes were shiny.
He suppressed, However, an inordi-
nate urge to lift the trcuser legs of
each of the men to see if they were
wearing regulation black socks
Il couldn't see their socks" the police
chief told Capt. Holmes. first precinct
commander, afterwards, but hope all
your men are wearing black hose. I
saw a policeman on the street just the
other day with white socks showing
beneath his trousers. That looks bad"
He lifted his own trousers leg to show
Capt. Holmes his properly clad ankle.
sheathed in black silk hose. Capt.
Holmes agreed that nothing looks so
terrible as policeman with white socks.
Appearance Excellent.
Glassford told Holmes he saw few
caps that were not worn according to
regulations, but that on the whole the
men of the first precinct presented an
excellent appearance.
After a day of these inspections Gen.
Glassford will take dinner with the
! Public Order Committee of the Wash
ingtcn Board of Trade, which meets at
the Raleigh Hotel to discuss Glassfords
much-discussed Crime Prevention Bu-
reau. Inspector Burke, long member
of the committee, also plans to attend.
Burke and Glassford are understood to
have had several disagreements over
this bureau and it is said the break
between the two largely is an outgrowth
Of these differences of opinion.
Presence of these officials is expected
to discourage any move by supporters
Of Burke to air the pending controversy
| In the meeting, although the unforeseen
may happen. Glassford, dissatisfied
i with the functioning of the Crime Pre-
vention Bureau, removed Inspector Davis
| from its command. Capt. Edward j.
Kelly has been placed temporarily in
charge of the bureau pending decision
by the District Commissioners Of In
| spector Burke's status.
Burke Fights Removal.
Burke, who had criticized assignment
of so many men to the bureau. is fight
| ing efforts of Glassford to remove him
| from command Of the Detective Bureau.
| GlaSsford sought to accomplish this
! through arranging for Burke'S retire
ment. but when the retiring board found
Burke fit for active service the police
superintendent recommended to the
Commissioners that Burke be transfer
red and replaced by Capt. Kelly, who
would be promoted to inspector.
! These recommendations are due to
be acted on by the Commissioners at
a beard meeting tomorrow morning in
the District Building Commissioner
| Crosby, who supervises the Police De-
| partment, has promised Inspector Burke
a hearing in the matter.