Evening star., 1933-10-22
CRIME
BRINGS NEED FOR
MORE POLICEMEN
Maj. Browns Annual Report
Shows Last Big Addition
!. Occurred in 1926.
OFFICERS ARE PRAISED
FOR DEVOTION TO DUTY
Stealing Arrests Soar With Sum Of
$2,4ss,270 in Property Taken
During Year.

An increase in the number OF mem
bers of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment is urgently needed to enable the
force to cope more adequately with ALI
increased crime problem, Maj. Ernest
w. Brown, superintendent Of police,
states in his annual report, made pub
lie yesterday by Commissioner Herbert
B. Crosby.
Statistical data contained In the re-
port shows crime increased consider
ably during the past year and he OUT
lined in some detail the record Of the
eight massed demonstrations staged
here by radical forces, including the
bonus and hunger marcher encamp-
ments, citing three riots that occurred
as result.
Maj. Brown said, however, he re-
allied no increase in the size of tho
police force could be expected under
present economic conditions. In this
connection he pointed out the au-
thorized personnel of the force is 1876
police officers and stated:
No Increase Since 1926
There has been no material increase
in strength since 1875 when i28 men
were added for the Trafic Bureau On
June 80, 1888, due to decreased appro-
prlatious, 1t was necessary to decrease
the force by Is men.
The annual report Of 1881 recon-
mended, as matter Of urgent neces-
sity, an increase to a minimum of ! 500
patrolmen over period of three years.
Though requirements and responsible
ties have increased greatly, it is re-
allied that no increase in strength
can be expected under present eco
nomic conditions, and that the handi-
cap of personnel shortage demands
added resourcefulness, efficiency and
perseverance 10 carry on successfully
the task of policing this city.
In addition to the very urgent need
for more patrolmen, so motor cycle
mands of the 24-hour service under
present traffic conditions. three hack
inspectors are inadequate considering
the unprecedented increase in taxicabs
and the work of the Woman's Bureau
has outgrown its present authorized
personnel
Recounts Demonstrations.
Maj. Brown described the first bonus
army invasion, reporting the death of
two veterans during q riot resulting
from members of the police force act
ing in defense Of their lives" He re
ferred also to the first scottsboro dem
onStratlon, In which he reported a
small riot occurred and a demonstra-
ton of local unemployed under Com
munist leadership. last March. in
which there were numerous minor cas-
ualties. Other demonstrations were the
Thanksgiving day communistic Incl
dent near the White House, the ma
tlonal hunger march, the May day
demonstration, second Scottsboro march
and the second bonus army encamp-
ment IN which trouble threatened be-
tween right" and left" wings,
Pra1slng the readiness with which
police responded to calls for extra duty
IN these cases, Maj. Brown said: 1T is
doubtful II any other police organi-
zat1on In the world has ever had the
same number of difficult and delicate
problems to contend with in the same
brief space Of time"
Maj. Brown made but two direct
Iecommenoatlons. One urged the es-
tablishment of board of censors 10
provide censorship for all entertain
ments. motion pictures and theatrical
performances in which there is a ques-
tlon involving public welfare and pub
nc decency. He proposed that such a
board consist Of five representative
residents Of the District, to be an
pointed BY the District Commissioners.
Would Boost Fine to 500.
The other recommendation was for
an increase from SIS to Sl00 the limit
ton. e'o''i'u-
The statistical record submitted bv
MAJ Brown shows that S,216 more per-
sons were held by police under cbaree
during the past year than durinr the
is'- nscal year. There were 467l3
persons arrested and held last wear
4,l09 OF which were felonies. whereas
the number for 1882 was 4s 4a7 of
which 3,249 were for felonies. Persons
neld Tor mSdemeanors last year totaled
42,604. as compared with 40 .248 the
previous year.
The value Of property reported stolen.
lncludlng automobiles, increased from
sl.75s;3 ;3o1 in 1882 to s2.4ss. .27o in the
past fiscal year. Maj. Brown said
The figures reveal the greatest In
crease IN arrests was for crimes such
as housebreaking. larceny, embezzle-
ment and other acts closely associated
with depressed economic conditions.
There were slightly more than 5000
PSAooAAo 4iClo lOl SuCIl 1clOIll6S ana mis-
demeanors In the past year, as COM
pared with about $500 the year pre-
vious.
126 Held in Fatalities.
There were 126 persons held on vari-
GUS murder and manslaughter charges
last year, as compared with 1O3 in the
previous fiscal year.
There was an increase in the number
Of arrests for violation of the Shep-
pard liquor law. The total for last
year was 16,777. This was higher than
the number in any of the past five
years. Under this law there were
charges for intoxication, operating a
vehicle while intoxicated and drinking
in 1892.
The number Of arrests under the
Volstead law last year was 3,i85, the
lowest number in the past five years.
The figure for 1882 was 4,l04. The
amount of liquor seizures last year un-
der the Volstead law also was the
smallest of any Of the past five years.
In the past year this totaled 16,764
gallons, whereas the figurt for 1882 was
81 ,o29. The peak in the past five years
was in 1928, when "a, All gallons were
taken.
Arrests for violation Of District traffic
laws last year totaled 1927, as COM
pared with 1929 the previous year.
Annual Supper November 25.