Evening star., 1941-07-24
Police
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Pagel
Civil Service Commissions interest
or thoroughness" in examinations.
1t was recommended that Civil
Service examinations for promotion
of policemen to high rank be abol-
ished and that such promotions be
made purely upon the recommended
tion of the major and superintend-
ent of police.
Demotion Power Favored.
At the same time, the committee
recommended that the Commission
ers be given the right to denote
policemen without the formality of
bringing them before the Police
Trial Board, as Is now the system.
The lawless and the shiftless are
f1ocking here in ever-increasing
numbers" the report declared in it's
discussion of the general situation
here. and the police have no ade-
/ quate means of control. The OBJ
servation and the accumulation of
facts necessary under the old law
before a case can be made prevents
the immediate wedding out of such
undesirables.
Your committee recommends
that the Commissioners prepare and
present to the full committee a new
vagrancy bill so materially strength
ened that the police will be able to
rid the city of all undesirables."
/ 1T is the opinion of the commit
tee said the report. that effective
| crime detection on homicide cases
must begin with the finding of the
body. Here in the Nations Capital
We continue TO maintain the office
of coroner. wholly unsuited ONCE
/ to present day needs Formerly,
this oficer was appointed by the
President by and with the consent
of the Senate ."
Invasion Of Habitual Criminals.
The report pointed out that in the
fiscal year ending June go, 1910,
1882 bodies were transported to
the Morgue. In this same year, 1t
said. 100 autopsies were performed.
These appalling figures" de-
clared the report. indicate that
Is per cent of the total deaths for
the fiscal year ending Ju~e 80, 1910,
required the attention of the coro-
ner. The coroner and his assistant
maintain their own offices for pri-
vate practice in medicine. and can
not possibly give all these cases
careful consideration and effective
investigation.
The subcommittee, recommending
enactment of legislation that would
prevent Washington from being in
vaded" by ''habitual criminals. -
said: There is now on the statute
books of the District a section pro-
viding for the punishment of per-
sons convicted a second time for
any criminal offense punishable by
fine or Imprisonment. or both.
This section provides that per-
sons so convicted a second time
shall be sentenced to pay a fine not
exceeding so per cent greater"
Before the committees report was
made public it was indicated that
the subcommittee had decided not tc
recommend abolition of the accident
prevention squad of SO. members
headed by Inspector Arthur E
Miller. although some of the men
attached to it are slated to be
shifted to foot patrol duty in the
process of stripping" special units
No names are mentioned ir
the report but private" agreement
has been reached between the sub
committe and District officials that
certain officers would be shifted.
Young Favors Changes.
One of the latest agreement,
reached between the subcommittee
and District officials is that Capt
Ira E. Keck, now in temporary COM
mand of the Detective Bureau, shall
be kept there to head a nucleus oi
four captains who will serve as q
super squad" of detectives. Capt
Floyd E. Truscott of the tenth pre-.
cinct is reported to be the officer tc
head the Detective Bureau. He
would be promoted to the rank Of
inspector.
Commissioner John Russell Young
who attended the final meeting o.
the subcommittee, told reporter,
afterward he is ready to carry ou,
the recommendations of the sub.
committee, but pointed out thai
final action would have to be taker
by the full board of District Com.
missioners to which is to be addec
in a few days Guy Mason, lawyer
and former newspaperman, who ha.
been nominated as successor to tn,
late Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
The F.. B. 1. is understood to have
begun an attempt to trace the source
of the anonymous letter threatening
the life of Representative Hebert
Democrat, of Louisiana. who in.
spired the police inquiry.
The letter warned Mr.. Hebert tina,
If he continued his attacks on the
Police Department he would mex
receive bullet.
Accident Unit Defended.
Representative Hebert said he die
not take the threat Seriously" bu
sent the letter to the Justice De-
partment
: Regarding the selection of {
new detective chief to succeed re.
tiling Inspector B. w. Thompson
Mr.. Young. said the choice is "stil
entirely up in the air"
He added he had not discussed
, this important detail in the inn
, pending reshaping of the Police De
! psrtment command with EngineeI
Commissioner Kutz. and that tn,
Board of Commissioners, in fact
had not yet given official consider
alton to selection of a new polio,
E chief to succeed Maj. E. w. Brown
r who is to retire this fall
= Mr.. Young said he wanted to dis
, cuss promotions and appointment,
carefully with other members o.
D the Board of Commissioners befor,
J. any decisions are reached.
r Mr.. Young refused to discuss Sc
= lection Of a new police chief excep
= to say that the appointment wouls
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