Evening star., 1936-02-02
CITIZENS REVIEW
POLICE SITUATION
Re- establishment of Old
Second Precinct Is Desired,
but Money Is Lacking.

SNS UsV''~J ~
The recert action taken by the Mid
CITY Citizens Association In reiterat-
ing its request for establishment OF
the old second precinct serves to
throw into bold relief the serious Sit
uation confronting the Metropolitan
Police Department as the result OF
the Budget Bureaus ruthless slash
ing of the Districts appropriation
estimates fer the 1897 fiscal year.
Despite the fact organized citizens
units probably have been more in
sistent in their demands for greater
police protection than for any other
single item, the Budget Bureau vir-
tually ignored Police Superintendent
Ernest w. Browns request for l31
additional policemen when 1t made
allowance for only four more officers.
Plans Are Blocked.
In submitting the estimates OF his
department, Maj. Brown anticipated
establishment of the second pre-
cinct in it's old home on Fifth street
between M and N streets, but this
was made impossible by the Budget
Bureaus action. This precinct was
combined with No. in 1891 as part
of a general consolidation plan put
into effect by former Board OF
Commissioners.
The Mid-City group has waged a
fight for restoration OF No. to It's
old area for the past two years, and
its meeting last Monday asked Con-
gress to return the needed appropr1a-
ton to the supply bill.
Shortly after the estimates were
transmitted to Congress. Maj. Brown
sent a letter to the Commissioners
in which he outlined the Serious sit
uation" brought about by the Budget
Bureaus slash in his estimates. Res
torarion of the second precinct was
placed at the top of the list.
Consolidation Unsatisfactory.
Consolidation of the precincts has
proven very unsatisfactory from po-
lice efficiency standpoint, Maj. Brown
stated in his letter, adding that in
stead of reducing the number OF pre-
cincts, the number should be in
creased to meet the increased demand
on the department. He cited the re-
| suits of restoration OF the fourth pre-
cinct in 1884 as showing decided I'M
provement and more efficient police
service in the southwest area.
In an effort to maintain efficient
service since the consolidation. the
boundaries of several of the precincts
have been changed in an effort to i'm
prove the service, but even this has
proved unsatisfactory, he said The
area previously covered by the second
precinct was bounded by S and K
streets, First street northeast and Fiji
teenth street. The present area has
an estimated population Of 100000
persons, 10000 of which are colored.
! For the past fiscal year, Maj. Brown
declared, the arrests in this precinct
were the highest of any unit, amount
ing to more than 1900. Badly III
need of repairs, the precinct station
contains only eight cells which are to-
tart inadequate to take care of the
number Of prisoners confined there
and the department is forced to bear
the additional expense of transferring
them to other stations.
Need to Restore Precinct.
To restore this precinct it would be
necessary to have another captain. two
lieutenants and three sergeants, as
we'll as the necessary number of pri-
Yates.
Maj. Brow. cited the need for addi
tional personnel in all precincts. His
| original estimates would have pro.
vided for captains, 2 lieutenants,
sergeants, ll6 priva.es and 25 motor
cycle allowances. The department ha:
not increased its personnel for FIVE
years. Notwithstanding the fact there
has been large increase in popula'
ton. an unusual increase in motor
vehicles snc increased demands fol-
police, not only by citizens and bust
ness interests but by the Federal Gov.
ernment. embassies and legations, HI
SAID.
The police chief pointed out many
privates have had to be assigned tt
clerical work because of the lack o1
provision for civilian help. To keer
the departments records current, Il
has been necessary to take policemen
off the streets, he said, and in ordel
that the men may be released FOL
patrol duty it is necessary that add
tional appropriations be obtained X
meet the original recommendations.
Modernizing Funds Slashed.
Estimates for undermining equip
ment also were slashed, the Budget
Bureau allowing only $3.50 of the
original request for $4,000. Maj
Brown called to the attention of tht
Commissioners the absolute neces.
sity' for new equipment.
One item was for a new prison van
The one in use now was purchased
in 1927 and is now in an unsafe me-
| chanical condition and is the only ve-
hicle of its kind owned by the depart
ment, Maj. Brown said. When the
van is put out of service, which is
becoming more frequent due to its
dilapidated condition, it is necessary
to call precinct patrol wagons into
service. These are not constructed fol-
the transportation of large number
of prisoners and there is always the
possibility Of escape, due to the fact
that the vehicles are open.
Another item of equipment request
ed was motor truck. The present
one is 1925 model confiscated dur
ing prohibition days and, due to its
dilapidated condition, 1t is unservice.
able. When it's "out of order" the
| dono rtroonf ic 1r,itbo,,t <ko earx,;ooc ~