Evening star., 1932-10-23
BROWN TO BOLSTER
UNIFORMED PATROL
FORCES AT ONCE
Officers Now on Special As.
Signment to Return to
Streets.
CHIEF CONGRATULATED
BY HESSE AND PRATT
Traffic Bureau Reorganization to
Procee1-No Personnel Changes
Now Projected.

Now Projected
Maj Ernest w. Brown, Washington's
new superintendent of police, disclosed
last night that the first major move of
his administration would be to place
more uniformed men on the street
Although precluded by lack of funds
from increasing the personnel, Maj.
Brown expects to enlarge the uniformed
patrol force with officers now on special
assignments. Men serving as clerks and
chauffeurs who can be relieved Of these
duties, he said, will be returned to the
patrol force.
At the same time Mai. Brown an
nounced he would complete the reor-
ganization of the Traffic Bureau, made
necessary by his promotion. Lieut.. Mil
ton D. Smith will be advanced to the
rank of acting captain. and Capt. B. A.
Lamb to the rank of acting inspector.
Lamb will take Browns place as COM
mander of the Traffic Bureau with
Smith as the first assistant.
Hoover Approval Needed.
recommendations for the elevation of
these two officers will be sent to the
Commissioners tomorrow, but their pro-
motions cannot be made permanent
until President Hoover gives his ap-
proval. Under the Federal economy act,
the President must give his consent to
the filling of any vacancies in the Gov
ernment service
No other important changes in per-
sonnel are contemplated at this time
Maj Brown said he wanted to make
a careful, serious study of the present
set-up of the department before under
taking any readjustment.
Maj. Brown, however, gave assurance
that Inspector Frank S. w. Burke
would remain at the head Of the Detec-
tive Bureau. It was Gen. Glassford's
efforts to remove Burke which led to
the controversy ending in the resigna-
tion of the former superintendent.
In planning to increase the uniformed
patrol force, Maj. Brown said it is his
belief that the presence of an of1cer
on the street is strong crime de-
terrent. The uniform of a policeman,
in the new superintendent's opinion has
a psychological effect on persons who
have an intent to break law, and for
that reason he proposes to have as
many uniformed officers as possible on
the street at all times.
Hesse and Pratt Call.
Mai. Brown spent his first dav in
Office as superintendent receiving floral
tributes and congratulatory messages.
Scores of police officers, from inspectors
personal visits to pledge their support
and congratulate him. Among his
visitors were two former police
Observation-Disclosures B. Hesse and
Henry G. Pratt.
The floral bouquets were so numerous
they nearly filled Maj. Browns office.
Many of them came from the men IN
the department. Others were sent by
such organizations as the On. Leong
Chinese Association and the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. At
tached to a large basket of flowers from
the Detective Bureau was card bear
ing this inscription: "One hundred
per cent support" One business man
wrote Sympathy on his card.
Mai. Gen Douglas Macarthur. chief
of staff of the Army. who directed the
eviction of the bonus army last July,
telephoned his congratulations. In
pile of congratulatory kilograms was
one from William s. Shelby, former as
sistant superintendent of police, which
read: Experience seems to have
brought wisdom to the District Build
ing"
Kelly Matter Pending.
Brown took the oath of office as
major and superintendent shortly after
9 o'clock yesterday morning, and I'M
mediately afterward went to his Office
at police headquarters for a confer
ence with his executive staff. The oath
was administered by Daniel E. Garges,
secretary to the Board OF Commission
ers, in the Office Of Maj. Gen. Herbert
B. Crosby, Commissioners in charge OF
police.
In a brief inaugural speech Maj.
Brown pledged to the District the very
highest degree of police SERVICE" and
pointed out that he proposed to make
his administration efficient, sane and
unspectacular.
The Office Of major and superintend-
ent IS not a one-man job, but a job
for every man in the department" he
said so we will put our feet on the
ground, our shoulders to the wheel get
off the front page and go to work"
Maj. Brown has not yet taken any
action on the request of Capt. Edward
j. Kelly for transfer from the Crime
Prevention Bureau to a precinct COM
mand He said he proposed to give the
request careful consideration.
Capt Kelly was relieved Of his COM
mand of the third precinct early this
month, and transferred to the Crime
Prevention Bureau, where Gen. Glass
ford proposed to have him remain
until he ousted Inspector Burke. 1t
was Gen. Glassford's announced inten-
ton to make Kelly chief of detectives
Gen. Glassford's plans went awry, how
ever. and when he resigned Kelly i'm
mediately filed request for a new
assignment.