Evening star., 1938-01-19
MORE POLICEMEN
HELDNEED IN DC.
Brown and Thompson Deny
Increase of Crime Despite
Lack of Men.


Police officials said today their in
tensifled war on hold-up men, burglars
and other thieves is holding in check
threats Of crime wave here, but many
more policemen are needed to cope ef-
fectively with the situation.
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police, and Inspector Ber-
nard w. Thompson, chief of detectives.
said the current crime rate was not
unusually high and cited records show
ing an actual decrease in some GRIM
inal activity this month.
Police records listed 80 hold-ups,
housebreaHngs and other thefts, in
volving total loot of $2,120, here yes
terday and last night as one-third Of
the day police force worked overtime
in efforts to curb them. These
reports included 3 hold-ups, in which
colored bandits collected $243. and II
housebreakings. 8 thefts from parked
automobiles, 3 purse snatchings,
pocket pickings and bicycle thefts.
Force Works Overtime.
Maj. Brown said the reinforcement
Of night police patrols by requiring
officers on day duty to work over
time was ordered as q precautionary
measure" because Of q gradual in
crease Of crime throughout the Ma
ton, but added that "in my opinion
there is no actual crime wave here"
He cited statistics showing only so
hoid-ups, purse-snatchings and other
"robberies from the person" were re-
ported here from December is to
January 16, as compared with 79
such cases from November l6 to De-
cember 16.
He also pointed to records show
ing a total of 50 hold-ups and other
robberies through January II of this
year. as compared with 148 during the
month of January last year and $50 in
January of 1896.
Inspector Thompson, declaring that
IF crime has come into the public
eye in the District, it is because there
are not enough policemen, and there
are not enough policemen because we
have insufficient appropriations" de-
Tended efficiency of the Detective Bu-
reau
I'VE need more men to cope with
the situation, but We are not ashamed
of our record" the inspector said. He
cited records showing 249 arrests by
the Detective Bureau so far this
month, with a total of 402 arrests
during December. 485 in November,
469 in October and 418 in September. "
Heavier Sentences Urged.
Commissioner Hazen agreed that the
Districts greatest need to curb crimi-
nal activity Is for additional police
officers, as requested in budget esti-
mates. He also suggested that heavier
sentences for major crimes, kdnap
law and strengthening of the parole
system would aid in checking crime.
The Commissioner explained he did
not blame any laxity in the parole
system for the current crime situation
but believed the Parole Boards staff
should be increased to make possible
more thorough investigation Of pris-
oners up for parole.
Wilbur La Roe. jr., chairman Of the
District Parole Board, said it would
be absurd" to suggest that parole is
in any substantial degree responsible
for crime. He said paroled prisoners
commit less than 10 of the approx
mately 5000 felonies reported here an
nually.
Meanwhile, a bill to give juries the
option of imposing the death penalty
in hold-up and robbery cases was in
troduced In the Senate by Senator
Bilbo, Democrat, Of Mississippi. A