Evening star., 1941-07-11
Hozen Reveals Offer
OF $4,000 to Shift
Coming Squad Head
Commissioner Tells
Police Probers Of
Bribery Attempt
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Recent Staying OF Jessie El,sd-
beth Strict 1CaS tollotUed quickly
By Investigations of Police De-
partment by congressional COM
mittee and Commissioners. Dur
inq hearings subcommittee has
been told force is only rs per cent
efficient. that "GeStdpo" spies on
force, that Defective Bureau -
departments UeakeSt link. Turn
ing to Strict case, committee
heard contradictory statements
from police and girls fdnce that
police DELAYED sir hours before
searching for her after she UdS
reported missing
Commissioner Melvin c. Ha-
zen today disclosed before the
House subcommittee investigat-
ing the Police Department that
some time ago an attempt was
made to bribe him with $40 900
to remove Acting Capt. George
M. Little from command Of the
gambling squad.
Other developments included:
An agreement was reached by the
Commissioners. who were present. 10
abolish the civil service system for
promoting officers "a plan de-
nounced by Chairman Schultz as
one of the contributing causes TO
police ineficiency.
Capt Ira Z. Keck. acting chief Of
the Detective Bureau-the unit sc-
cused of being the weakest link In
the department-char that fall
ure of the courts TO cooperate with
the Police Department is one OF the
main reasons why the force is not
more efficient.
Capt. Keck revealed that in the
reorganization of the Detective Bu-
reau. now in progress, 1t. George
Darnall would be relieved as head
of the homicide squad and that .
captain would be placed in COM
mand of that important unit.
Capt. Little Praised.
Acting Capt. Little, now IN com.
mand of the Detective Bureaus fug-
itive squad, was in the COMMITTEES
| room awaiting his turn to TESTIFY,
when Commissioner Hazen made the
bribe disclosure.
Chairman Schultz had described
Acting Capt. Little as one Of the
most efficient officers in the depart
ment. but had not been promoted to
the full rank of captain" because
under the existing civil service sys-
tenn he couldn't tell how long 1t
takes a startling to f1y from the
White House to the Department Of
| Justice"
You're right agreed Capt Keck.
And l agree too remarked Com
missioner Hazen. Il have never told
this before, but Acting Capt. Little
was so efficient when he had charge
Of the gambling squad that friend
came to me and offered to deposit a
$4,000 check in a certain bank to
my credit if I could remove him
from the gambling squad"
We'll. what happened?" asked
Chairman Schultz.
I'm a poor man now" the Com
| missioner answered.
Hazen Fears Influence"
why can't you tell the Civil Serv-
ice Commission you no longer want
those examinations given men who
want to be promoted" inquired
Representative Schultz later in dis
cussing promotions. Why don't
you go ahead and promote men on
the basis of eficiency?"
Pointedly, Mr.. Schultz asked Com
missioner Hazen if he was "in
agreement" with such a proposal.
There's one handicap" came the
reply.
What's that?" asked Representa- =
tive Hebert, Democrat. of Louisiana
Influence on promotions" the
Commissioner replied.
What do you mean?" continued
Representative Hebert.
Various kinds of influences" said
Mr.. Hazen.
Yes" declared Mr.. Hebert. "and
that's what's the matter with the
department right now"
Technicians Needed.
Capt. Keck testified that the Po-
lice Department now is handicapped
in its work because it does not have
a full-time criminologist or micro
analyst to help in such cases as that
of the Strieff murder. He explained
that this work now is done by DR..
Richard Rosenberg, deputy coroner.
who does it voluntarily on his own
time in addition to his regular
duties.
He said he would recommend that
the department be allowed to en-
ploy chemist and micro-analyst
to work in the department and
that, if this were not permissible,
that it be given a medical examiner,
with staff.
In this connection, Capt. Keck. 4"
the chairman asked, don't you
think we should build up our police
force to take care of a city of q
million persons?"
BY all means" agreed the acting
detective chief. I'VE are far behind
at present"
Asked what further Improvements
he would suggest, Capt. Keck said
he would recommend passage of a
vagrancy law with teeth in it and
would do away with the statute
which requires police to release a
suspect unless some charge has been
placed against him within six hours.
He recalled one instance in which q
man had confessed to a crime after
he had been in Jail IA days and
pointed out that the confession
might never have been obtained If
a lawyer had appeared with a writ
and forced the prisoners release.
Kutz Opposes Civil Service Plan.
Commissioner KutZ, who was
present, said he favored elimina-
ton of civil service examinations
for men seeking promotions, and so
did Commissioner Young, with
reservations.
It believe the subcommittse
should get the credit for that