Evening star., 1941-07-13
Police
"A. P. Wirephoto.
Continued From First Page)


what was meant by false and mis-
eading statements"
1t was pointed out yesterday,
however, by spokesmen for the COM
mission that the legal basis for the
civil service examinations appar-
entity had been ignored or misun-
derstood. Furthermore officials at
the commission objected 10 what
they considered frivolous discus
sion of the serious questions pro-
pounded on the promotion exami-
nations. For instance, it was
pointed out, there never was any
such question about "starlings" as
was injected into the hearing by
Chairman Schultz of the commit
tee. He had said that Acting Capt.
George M. Little was one of the
most efficient officers in the de-
oartment, who had not been pro-
NOTED to the full rank of captain"
because he couldn't tell how long
1t takes a starting to fly from the
White House to the Department of
Justice" Mr.. Schultz also had de-
nounced the promotion system un-
der civil service as one of the causes
contributing TO police ineffciency.
Act Of Congress Cited
In her letter, Mrs. McMillin said ::
Positions in the Metropolitan Po-
ljce Deparfmopt ora nat r,;,L; - -
Federal classified civil service, and
In so far as law enforcement Of
f1cers within .the department are
concerned civil service requirements
apply only to the appointment of
privates, to the promotion of Of
ncers from private to sergeant, from
sergeant to lieutenant, and from
lieutenant to captain.
The Civil Service Commission
has nothing whatever to do with
appointments or promotions to other
positions. The commission has noth-
ing to do with assignments within
the Police Department, including
the selection of individuals for duty
in the Detective Bureau. The Civil
Service Commission has no jurisdic-
ton whatever over the retention or
dismissal of employees of the Police
Department.
Under an Act of Congress, ap-
polntments to the position of private
are made as result of open COM
petitive examination. All persons
who pass this open competitive
examination are thoroughly investi-
gated by the Civil Service Commits
sion and their fingerprints are
checked by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to insure that only
persons of good character will be
appointed. The commission believes
that the people of any community
are entitled to protection which can
be given only by a police force Sc
lected without favoritism. Whatever
may be the shortcomings of any DO
lice department, they certainly are
not attributable to appointments
made on a basis of merit and fit
ness.
Requirements Of Law
An act OF Congress requires that
promotions from private to sergeant,
from sergeant to lieutenant and
from lieutenant to captain be made
in accordance with civil service
rules and regulations. The promo
ton examinations for these POSI-
tions consist Of rating on eff
cheney which is assigned by officials
Of the Police Department., and
which has a relative weight of so
per cent in the examination, and
4 written test on the of1icer's knowl-
edge of the police regulations of the
District of Columbia, which also
has a relative weight of so per
cent.
mo other type of promotion ex-
animation is given. Therefore only
a person who has demonstrated his
ability as reflected by his efficiency
rating and who can answer intel
ligently questions based on the po-
lice regulations can be promoted
to higher grade position. These
promotion examinations are prac-
tical and insure promotion on a
basis of demonstrated ability and
knowledge of police regulations.
In its official statement the COM
mission explained conversely, that
"an officer who has been assigned
a low efficiency rating by his su-
periors and who cannot interpret
intelligently the regulations under
which he must work cannot, of
course, be promoted. The comreis-