Evening star., 1937-03-08
CRIME RATEH|GH,
SECOND PRECINCT
TROUBLES POLICE
Need for Additional Officers
Seen for Law Enforcing
in Area.
13 POLICEMEN PROTECT
100000 RESIDING THERE
Problem Traced to Consolidation
of Units in 1931-Lock.Up Fa-
cilities Inadequate.

Thirteen policemen protect the lives
and property of 100000 persons in the
second precinct. Each foot patrolman
must outwit burglars, uphold the law
and maintain peace in an area %
blocks square.
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, who as
superintendent of the Metropolitan Po-
lice is responsible for Washington's
welfare and who is concerned by the
bad criminal record OF the precinct,
has said:
1T is virtually impossible to con-
duct an efficient program Of law en-
forcement in an area of nearly three
and half square miles with the small
force available"
Consolidation Of the second and
eighth precincts in 1881 was responsible
for this problem. BY that act an area
Of three and half square miles, hous-
ing some 100000 people. was put under
the jurisdiction Of a single precinct.
One station house, located in the
north central part, on U street be-
tween Ninth street and Vermont ave-
nue., is the direct managing unit for
this troublesome region.
Favorable to Burglars.
One policeman is responsible for ap-
proximately 1892 citizens If the
patrolman happens to be at one ex-
treme of his beat when a home is
robbed at the other end. the burglar
has every chance Of making a get
away.
There are geographically larger
precincts than the second, but none
that can match its criminal record.
Embracing that region of the city
from First street northeast to Fiji
teenth street northwest. and from K
street to Euclid street, this focal area
Of District crime has been a handi-
cap to law enforcement since its in
ception.
Disposal Of prisoners once appre-
hended presents another grave prob
lem. OF this, Precinct Capt. James
E. Bobo has said:
The cell-block at No. is too small
to accommodate the number Of pris-
oners brought in Often it is neces-
sary to transfer them to another
lookup, particularly on Saturday
nights. This means danger of es-
capes and extra cost"
Second Station Seen as Aid.
All concerned are convinced that
solution OF the problem lies in di-
vision of the precinct or establish
ment of another station-house within
it.
The mere presence of a station
house in the lower southeast corner
would materially reduce the number
of crimes, according to Maj. Brown.
"Of take the case of four and
FIVE" he continued, offering another
solution. Consolidated at the same
time as two and eight, these pre-
cincts became more and more diff
cult to handle as unit. Restoration
of old No. 4, however. brought about
q more efficient police service for these
areas"
That 81 per cent of the robberies
and Al per cent of felonies reported
last year were committed in the lower
| third of the precinct offers vivid
| testimony of the need for either
establishment of another station
house in that region or division of the
precinct.
In the tiny third statistical beat, u
f1ve-block square area bounded oy
Sixth, Eleventh, K and P streets, %
per cent of all robberies reported took
place.
The incorporative move of 1881
eventually led to establishing the
Women's Bureau in the Fifth street
station, which has caused criticism
in view of the criminal record of
the area.
A proposal has been made to move
the Women's Bureau into the Police
Court Building on D street as soon
as new quarters for the court can
be procured. This would allow re-
establishment of a station-house in
q strategic place. Those who have
| studied the second precinct situation
say that to function efficiently, It
must have a second station-houSe,
substantially increased personnel, Or
| 1t must be divided.