Evening star., 1941-03-10
Crime in Washington

In making public its annual tabu-
lation of crime statistics submitted
for 1910 by municipal police, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation ad-
vises that caution be used in COM
pairing one city'S crime record with
another's. differences in figures
may be due to a variety Of factors"
it was pointed out. Among the fac
tors which may affect the amount OF
crime in a community, the +. b. l.
states, are Composition of popula-
tion, economic status and activities
of population, climate, cultural ia
cilities, attitude of the public toward
law enforcement problems, ratio of
police to population, degree of police
efficiency and extent of cooperation
rendered by prosecutors and judges.
Having given this admonition, the
bureau cites police figures which
show that among fifteen cities hav-
ing population of more than 100000,
Washington in 1910 stood fourth in
number Of larcenies involving fifty
dollars or over, fifth in robberies,
sixth in larcenieS involving less than
fifty dollars, seventh in murders and
eighth in burglarieS and in automo-
biles stolen. With respect to a final
crime category included in the tabu-
lation, aggravated assault, Washing
ton had the lowest total of any of
the fifteen large cities Thus, except
for the last-named type of crime, the
Capitals record was far from ex-
emplary.
In weighing this record, 1t is inter-
esting to consider how many Of the
factors cited by the F. B. l. as in
fuencing trends of crime may apply
here. Certainly Washington is IA
vored as to composition of pOpula-
ton, general economic status Of the
inhabitants, climatic conditions and
cultural facilities. There is general
respect for law and a demand for
law enforcement on the part of in
dividuals and organizations. That
leaves for consideration the police,
prosecution and court factors. And
it is in this general field that room
for improvement undoubtedly exists
1t is significant to note that Wash
ington stands seventh on the list of
fifteen larger cities in number of
police per mile Of street and eleventh
in number of police per square mile
Washington's ratio Of policemen to
population, % per 1000 residents,
long has been lower than that in
many Of the big citieS-and the rapid
influx Of new residents during the
emergency is widening the disparity
day by day. Washington needs more
policemen. 1t has been estimated by
the Federation of Citizens ASSocia-
tiOn'S Safety Committee that 661 ad-
ditional patrolmen are required to
bring the present force up to the
police strength prevailing in COM
parable cities Major Ernest w.
Brown made a modest recommended
llOIA AOL 1OO llCW 1IIC41s 44lC SOlllIIllD-
sioners have asked Congress for only
twenty fve-for economy reasons
This number is far too small.
The prosecution picture has bright
ened in recent years, and there has
been improvement also in the local
courts. Congested dockets, Ienient
sentences in too many serious cases
and need for certain reforms in Po-
lice Court have been matters of re-
cent concern, however. With a
strong, efficient police force, with
vigorous prosecution, with speedier
trials and with uniformly firm, even
handed justice, Washingtons law
enforcement record well might be-
come the envy Of all other cities.