Evening star., 1940-05-26
Bureau Planned
To Check All
Traffic Crashes
Sixty Troined Men
And Three Cruisers
! Sought for Work
By j. B. ZATMAN.


Tentative plans for organization
of a Traffic Investigation Bureau,
which will place Washington on a
traffic par with other cities of COM
parable size, are expected to be
drawn up at meeting tomorrow of
Maj. Ernest w. Brown. superintend-
ent of police; Inspector Arthur E.
Miller, who is to head the bureau,
and Inspector William E. Holmes of
the Traffic Division al Police Head
quarters.
y. With a personnel specially trained
In accident investigation and equip
ped with all the paraphernalia nee
essary for the work, the new bureau
will fill the gap which long has
existed in the Traffic Division, &C
cording to police officials.
The new setup also will mark the
launching of the program recon-
mended by Inspector Miller in a
report last January from Northwest
ern University, where he was attend
ing the Traffic Institute.
According to Inspector Miller, it
10 IllS GILL W lloNC dU lCuSu w AlACAl
assigned to this work and the three
cruisers which specialize in traffic at
present. This compares with Cleve-
land, a much larger city, which has
81 men specifically trained in acci-
dent investigation, and which last
year had the best record in traffic
safety among larger cities in the
National Safety Councils traffic
contest.
New Procedure Planned.
"Of course, the number of men
and amount of equipment to be in
eluded in the bureau will depend
largely on the funds available for
the work." the inspector emphasized.
The entire procedure of investi-
eating traffic fatalities will be re-
vamped, he indicated At present,
this job falls largely on the Homi-
eide Squad
When there is an accident involv-
ing pedestrian, for instance, the
first to arrive on the scene usually
is the scout car. The two police
men question theedriveT Of the car
and any witnesses and then present
their case before q. member of cor
poration counsel's Office. The latter
determines whether the evidence is
sufficient to take the case into court.
If the pedestrian dies the homi-
eide squad enters the picture. But
by then the trail may be cold and
the member of the squad investi-
eating the accident has to start
from scratch.
Hampered by Lack of Drawings.
He presents his evidence at a
coroner's inquest and. if the driver
is held for Police Court action under
the Negligent Homicide Act, the
member of the homicide squad is
called to aid the prosecutor in pre-
senting the Governments case.
In many instances, however, the
prosecutor has complained of the
lack of pictures and drawings avail
able to help in the prosecution. This
was due largely to the lack of equip
ment and special training of the
policeman investigating the fatality.
With the setting up of the Traffic
Investigation Board, however, In
spector Miller expressed confidence
that with trained men available to
look into each accident Immediately
there will be general Tightening up
all along the line, resulting in a
much higher percentage of convic-
tions in Police Court.
Although he declined to say
whether establishment of a separate
traffic court would aid in obtain
ing convictions of traffic violators.
Inspector Miller admitted that the
traffic institute at Northwestern
University advocated such court.
Review Board Functioning.
The foundation for the new bu-
feau was laid in January with the
establishment of an Accident Re-
view Board within the Police De-
partment to analyze each fatal or
serious traffic accident.
This board was headed by In
spector L. I. H. Edwards, police
executive officer, and included In
spectors Holmes and the late Ben
jamin A. Lamb. Capt. Milton D.
Smith of the traffic division and
Detective Sergt. William Liverman
of the homicide squad.
Their findings on each accident
which resulted in a death or major
injury were sent to the command
ing officer in the precinct where the
accident occurred so that similar
accidents might be prevented in the
future through preventive meas
sures, such as stop signs, traffic
lights or the stationing of more
police in the area.
In addition, the commanding Off
Ger was asked to instruct his sub
ordinates to report any traffic lights
obstructed by tree foliage or other
wise.
With the return of Inspector
Miller, then captain, from North
western University, Maj. Brown had
available man trained in acci-
dent investigation to head a special
bureau devoted only to such work.