Evening star., 1935-03-23
POLICE PERSONNEL
INCREASE SOUGHT
IN TWO PRECINCTS.
Captains in Fifth and Tenth
Areas Make Pleas to Crime
Committee.
NIGHT SESSIONS SLATED
COMPLETE DC. PROBE
Sheetz and Morgan Advise Con-
solidation of Forces to Aid
Efficiency.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


Park Police forces in the interest of
economy and increased efficiency.
Such a merger, they pointed out,
would prevent overlapping of duties.
Both Morgan and Sheetz were ques-
toned by Representative Schultz,
Democrat, of Indiana, and John F.
Fitzpatrick, committee counsel.
Capt. Sheetz said he needed at least
81 additional men, including 6 motor
cycle officers, to handle traffic. Nor
gan said Is additional men would
give him an adequate personnel.
Chairman Jennings Randolph of
West Virginia announced as the hear
ing opened that the committee would
hold night sessions next week on
Tuesday and Wednesday in addition
to the daily morning and afternoon
sessions. The committee intends to
speed up the investigation in order
to complete it within 10 days.
Sheetz First Witness.
Capt. Sheetz was the first witness.
He began his testimony by describing
the area covered by the tenth pre-
cinct. which has population of about
10000 persons.
Fitzpatrick asked Sheetz whether
1t would be practical to use civilians
as station clerks.
Impractical" he replied 1T is
necessary to have clerks with knowl-
edge of police regulations and laws"
Sheetz told the committee he has
only 10 men to patrol l8 beats. He
said the precinct should have at least
additional patrolmen and 6 motor
cycle officers.
In response to Fitzpatrick's queS-
tions, Sheetz admitted a merger of the
Metropolitan and Park Police forces
would result in economy and increased
efficiency. He also urged retention
of the present civil service rating
system, but Suggested'a change in the
formula for determining efficiency
One Officer Uses Bicycle.
Earlier in his testimony Sheetz
brought out that he had one officer
mounted on a bicycle in his precinct.
You really have a man who rides
q bike?" inquired Schultz. Isn't
there a chance of getting him a horse
and Buggy"
Sheetz completed his testimony by
telling the committee there were a
few disorderly houses in his precinct
as well as few numbers operators.
Capt. Morgan followed Capt. Sheetz
on the witness stand. and after out
lining the area and population of his
precinct, said he needed at least IL
or IS more men properly to patrol the
territory.
Fitzpatrick questioned Morgan about
his views on the proposed civilian
trial board and he opposed it. Il
think the present set-up is the best
system so far devised"
Morgan hesitated somewhat in an
swering Fitzpatrick's questions about
civilian trial board when Schultz
interrupted:
You might just as we'll loosen up,
captain" said Schultz. I'VE are 60
ing to get that information anyhow"
You are going to get it," replied
Morgan. Il have nothing to hide,
nothing to conceal"
Tactics Held Not Severe.
Schultz next asked Morgan if the
tactics of the present Trial Board
are hard boiled and severe"
Not particularly" he answered.
Schultz then inquired if Morgan
would be lenient toward an officer
brought before the Trial Board on
charge of drinking a glass of beer.
He said he would probably hold out"
Then you have a heart" said
Schultz.
Yes. I always have" replied
Morgan.
Fitzpatrick then asked Morgan if he
had made a statement at a roll call
in January that every man in the
precinct was taking graft, except one.
and that he was too dumb" to be
crooked.
IF you'll bear with me I'll explain"
said Morgan
Morgan described in detail the
difficulty he experienced in getting
information about a gambling house
near First and B streets southeast,
that was raided recently after Repre-
sentative Blanton, Democrat, of
Texas, had called the Crime Commit
tees attention to its existence.
Morgan described how Precinct De-
tective Salkeld broke into the place
before the raid was made on Blan-
tons complaint but found nothing"
He said this raid was made without
warrant, which he described as a hit
and-run case.
Complaint Is Filed.
A strongly-worded complaint against
Inspector Albert ]. Headley's reported
criticism of the eleventh police pre-
cinct was filed earlier with Commits
sioner Melvin C. Hazen and Police
Supt. Ernest W.. Brown by Adelbert
w. Lee, president of the Randle
Highlands Citizens Association.
The Crime Committee was told sew
eral days ago by Capt. Sidney j.
Marks of the eleventh precinct that
Headley had described his precinct as
third rate" Lee declared some steps
should be taken to correct that report.
Administration Held Good.
Lee pointed out that the eleventh
precinct is properly and efficiently ad-
ministered by Capt. Marks and his two
lieutenants, and that there is no
justification for low classification.
ut has been noted that much
criticism has been directed to In
spector Headley," said Lee. land it is
worthy of note that most of the COM
plants concerning low efficiency rat
ings have emanated from officers
within the precincts under the super
vision of Inspector Headley.
ct have particular reference to Nos.
8, o and II precincts.
Certainly that shows one of two
things: Either Inspector Headley does
not give credit with an open mind to
the officers under him or the efdci-
ency of the precincts within Inspector
Headley's Jurisdiction are not being
properly supervised by the inspector.
Frankly, it appears that Inspector
Headley has allowed personal feel
ings to influence him in his official
St,doy,na1f ar fhnra annaure tn he