The Washington times., 1935-03-21
LIEUT.. DESCH.
CHAR GES
SLASH
Officer Says His Mark Was
Reduced After He Was
Called "Shirker"
(Continued from Page !


Both Inspector Headley and the
man whom Representative Thomas
L. Blanton CD Of Texas is &C
cused Of trying to force into re-
tirement so Inspector Headley
could step up into an assistant
superintendency Of police, were
pleasant and courteous. They took
the questioning good-naturedly,
fully cognizant Of rumors In po-
lice circles that they, with Major
Brown and Inspector L. I. H. Ed.
wards, will be retired in Shake-up
Of the department.
D. c. Heads To Act
The District Commissioners ap'
peared today to be ready to &C
cept whatever recommendation
comes from the special House
crime investigating committee
with reference to reorganization
Of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment.
Still silent, they are nevertheless
following developments at the
Capitol and within the Police De-
partment with Increasing interest.
One high official admitted pri-
vately that if the congressional
inquisitors and public opinion de
mand the retirement Of the pres
ent police heads, all of whom are
eligible for retirement on age and
length Of service, they will be re-
placed.
May Be Ousted
If they do not retire volun.
tarily in that event those with
the longest service-Major Brown,
Inspector Headley and Inspector
Bean-can be retired by the Com
missioners, or as an alternative
dismissed or forced to resign.
Inspector Edwards, in i'll health,
Is understood to be planning to
retire unless his condition i'm
proves. He is away now.
Marks On Stand
Capt. S. j. Marks, commander
of the Eleventh Precinct, took
the stand at the opening of to.
days session, Of the House crime
investigation.
He said he had only 81 police.
men to cover the II miles Of his
precinct. He said:
ut would take an additional
80 men properly to police that
area"
With men on leave and sick.
ness there are usually on duty
at one time but three sets Of
men in radio cars and two on
foot beats, he said.
In a colloquy between COM
mittee Counsel John Fitzpatrick
and Captain Marks the following
developed:
o.-(By Fitzpatrick Do you
have any traffic officers? A.
No.
Q.-Do you think you should
have some? Ayes.
Q.-How many? Ask motor
cycle men.
Q.-Would they be used on other
duty, too? Ayes.
Q-Do you think If you had
more officers the number Of traf-
fic accidents would decrease? A
] certainly do.
Q.-Is there anything the Park
Police do in your area that your
men can't do? Att Is an. over
tapping of police efforts that we're
doing.
Fav0rs Merger
Q.-Should the Park and Metro.
politan Police be merged? A
Yes.
Q-What do you think Of the
continuation Of the Civil Service?
Al think it should be retained
but that the percentage of Civil
Service rating should be lowered
in comparison to the efficiency
rating Of the department.
He said in answer to further
questions that Inspector Albert j.
Headley had said about three
weeks ago that "some present
captains and reutenants will re.
main captains and lieutenantS a
long time"
Q.-Why did he say this? Al
can't imagine. I didn't think it
was right.
Q.-Was it said in an unfriendly
spirit? A.-No; should say it
was said sort Of IN horse play.
Q.-1s Inspector Headley the
man to whom you turn over your
efficiency ratings? Ayes.
Lieutenant Called
Lieut.. Emil Desch Of the same
precinct next took the stand.
Asked if Inspector Headley had
made any statement derogatory
to him Uieutenant DeSch), the
lieutenant replied:
"Yea."
Q.-When was it? A.-Some-
time after the return Of the last
efficiency ratings.
Q.-Your efficiency rating in
creased to S2.99, didn't it? A
Yes.
Q.-What was it that took
place between you and Headley?
Al came in the office one day
and the captain and Inspector
Headley were talking. The In
Bpector said the lieutenants and
Sergeants were not doing their
work. I asked what he meant,
and he turned TO me and said ]
was speaking out of turn.