Evening star., 1941-06-29
Young Proposes D. {
Set Up System Of
Training Police
Wants Promotions
Delayed Until Probe
Is Completed

Development of system of
training for selection of all ranks
of Metropolitan police officers, with
particular emphasis on head
quarters detectives, was advocated
yesterday by Commissioner John
Russell Young. as the whole ques-
ton of police promotions was dis
cussed by city officials.
The city heads had before them
recommendation from Inspector
James F. Beckett, acting superin-
tendent of police, for the appoint
lment of three new headquarters
detectives. Their appointments
we're deferred, on motion of Brig.
Gen. Charles w. Kutz, Engineer
Commissioner, who proposed that
they first should be required to take
the training course offered by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Immediately there arose a ques-
ton as to whether Washington
policemen could be admitted
promptly to the F. B. 7. school,
since it receives applications from
cities throughout the Nation, and
since its school now is filled.
Wants Promotions DELAYED.
On learning these facts, Commits
SiOner Melvin c. HaZen declared
later in the day he would again
bring up for action tomorrow the
appointment of the three new head
quarters detectives. but Commits
Sioner Young said he felt no pro-
motions in the Police Department
should be made until Investigations
of the Police Department efficiency
are concluded.
From the latest information avail
able, Commissioner Hazen plans to
ask approval by the Board of Com
miSsionerS of their promotions to-
morrow, since the question has been
raised as to whether or how soon
Washington police officers can be
admitted to the F. B. l. school One
F. B. I. official said yesterday the
Federal agency had applications for
admittance to the school which were
one year old
Doubt as to whether Washington
police officials could get F. B. 1.
training promptly was voiced yes
terday by some police officers after
they heard the Commissioners had
held up the proposed promotions,
and one report was to the effect that
Capt. Earl P. Hartman, about a
year ago, applied for F. B. I. train
ing, was told there was no vacancy,
that he waited year, and that by
that time he had reached the age
of 46, which, under F. B. I. rules.
excluded him from the F. B. 1.
training.
Wants All to Pass Muster.
Commissioner Young's idea is that
all members of the Police Depart
ment seeking promotion should
have to pass muster under the de-
partment's own system of training.
for any position, whether it be for
a higher rank of private or sergeant
or detective or higher ranking police
officials.
The plan to have applicants for
headquarters detective positions first
passed through the F. B. I. training
course was initiated by Commission
er Kutz. Commissioner Young, on
his return from the Capitol, ap-
proved that plan, but suggested the
District government establish a
trainir1O &c ~
partment officers equal to that Of
fered by the F. B. I.
81 am decidedly in favor of hav-
ing our candidates for Detective
Bureau positions take the F. B. I.
training course" Commissioner
Young said. "and I think they
should be allowed to take this train
ing on leave at pay from the Dis
trict government. But. when we
get organized, I hope the District
government will be able to offer a
training course for our own men
equal to that given by the F. B. /.
Commissioner Hazen was said to
have agreed yesterday with the
kutz plan, but had a change of
heart later when he was informed
that some District police depart
ment officials had applied for F.
B. I. training school instructions and
had been held off because the
F. B. I. school was filled to capacity
and that since applications were
received from places throught the
country. the applications was
granted in the order in which they
were received as openings occurred.