The Washington times., 1935-05-01
FULL COMMITTEE EXPECTED
TO APPROVE FINDINGS

in law enforcement. Another
excuse advanced is the alleged
inadequacy Of existing law. The
people of Washington have con-
Vincingly demonstrated their
desire that the police be given
more men, better equipment and
more stringent laws. There is
beyond any question of doubt,
ample proof that more men are
needed, additional and more
modern equipment is needed,
and that certain laws should be
made more stringent. It is
equally evident that increased
efficiency is needed, perhaps
more urgently than anything
else.
More Men and New Laws Rec
commemorative subcommittee,
realizing the immediate need
for strengthening the depart
ment, submitted to the full Com
mittee on the District of Column
bia a partial and preliminary re-
port, recommending that suffi-
cient appropriations be sought
to enable the Commissioners to
add al officers and men to the
Metropolitan Police Department.
Legislation designed to make
apprehension and punishment
Of criminals more definitely Ger
tain and speedy Is recommended
elsewhere in this report.
Better Police Force as Impor-
tant as Larger Police Force.-At
the same time, it is clearly rec
ognized that merely strength
ening the police department,
and enacting new laws, will not
remedy the city's crime situa-
ton. 1t is, of course, impoSsi-
BILE to legiSlate against ineffi-
Gent and incompetent officials.
It is, however, always possible
to remove such officials.
If We are to be rid of those
who prey upon our laW-abiding
citizens, and if we are to make
the Capital of the greatest nation
on earth a place of safety and
security against crime, we must
have in Washington the most
efficient, the most aggressive,
the most relentless and the most
dependable police force Of any
city in the world.
When washington has organ
lied and built up such a police
force, Washington will be one
of the most crime-free cities of
the United States, instead of as
1t is today, one of the most
crime-ridden.
Present High Command Ex-
hausted.-Purely in the interest
of affording the people of
Washington the best possible po-
lice protection, it is nothing
more than good judgment to
take the administration Of the
police department out of the
hands of officials who have
given to the city the best years
of their lives and who, because
Of advancing age, are no longer
able to provide the character
of energetic leadership that
must be had if the department
is to be operated at its maxi
mum efficiency,
The work of a good police Off.
Ger is arduouS and exhausting.
Those who have risen through
the ranks by virtue of their de-
votion to service and because Of
their ability to assume increaS-
ing responsibilities are the ones
who have probably exerted the
greatest amount of physical and
mental energy. These officers
have given to their tasks not only
the best years of their lives, but
their service to the community
has exhausted their physical
and mental resources. For many
years. most of them have
worked without regard to SEIZED.
ule of hours. They have worked
Sundays, holidays, and at times
continuously for weeks without
a single day of relaxation. It is
not uncommon for ranking Of
ficials Of the police department
to devote as much as IA to 16
hours a day to their duties. No
man can devote himself so un-
Sparingly to such trying work
as that of police administration
and continue indefinitely to be
forceful and efficient.
It is not only fair and Just to
these officers that they be re-
tired, but from the standpoint
of good common sense and SELF
protection. the District of Co
lumbia should place them on
the retired list and replace them
with younger and more vigorous
men.
Immediate Retirement of High
Ranking Officers-Translattng
the foregoing into definite opin-
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