Evening star., 1941-07-11
Continued From First Pagel


move" said Commissioner Young.
Il think ii should include that in
its recommendations"
Out the window that goes" re-
marked Chairman Schultz.
During his testimony shortly be-
fore this exchange, Capt. Keck de-
centive' on the part of the police
men to enforce the laws better if the
judges would help.
The acting chief of detectives re-
called that judges on the bench l8
to 20 years ago gave a prisoner as
much as Is years on charge that
now nets hoodlum only year or
less and enables them to get back on
the streets under parole within
three months.
Capt. Keck at first made his state
ment regarding the courts in an off,
the-record session, but later, on the
insistence of the committee, agreed
for it to be made a public record.
Il think we're getting somewhere
now" chairman Schultz commented
after Capt. Keck'S statement. 1T
seems to me now that the courts are
the place for us to strike. If we get
efficient judges. We will get more
efficient police service
Keck Tells of Weak Spots"
Capt. Keck told the committee
that there were definite weak
spots in the Detective Bureau. and
presented list of changes he said
he would put into effect if he were
made its chief. He listed as one of
the most important of these the re-
assignment of detectives now on the
force. a change suggested earlier by
other witnesses.
He also said he would be in favor
Of the move to abolish the civil serv-
ice system as a method of deciding
promotions and to place the re-
Sponsibility on the chief of police
and the District Commissioners.
You'll get better officers and
you'll get more efficient officers he
assured the committee.
When Capt. Keck first appeared
he was asked by Chairman Schultz
the route by which he had risen to
his present position and replied that
he had come up solely through ex-
perience.
You're now in the most impor-
tant position outside that of the
chief of police" Chairman Schultz
vxyit
still you have had no training other
than what you got from your actual
service with the department"
That's right answered Capt
Keck I'm in the hot spot"
Not Weak Until This Year.
He was asked the reason for the
alleged inefficiency of the Police
Department and replied that it had
not been inefficient until this year
There are weak spots there now,
Just as there are in any organiza-
tion," he said.
In commenting on Improvements
he has outlined for tine bureau, he
said he felt there were men in the
department who are not fit for the
positions they hold, and that he
would do all within his power to
correct this deficiency, calling at
tention to the fact that the setup of
the bureau was just what it was
when he returned to the Detective
Bureau five and half years ago.
OF and on Capt. Keck has been in
the bureau since 1919.
Capt Keck named as another of
his proposed changes the replace
ment of 1t. Darnall with an officer
holding the rank of captain.
1t. Darnall is a good officer" he
commented, but the job he holds is
one of such Importance that it rates
the responsibility of captain. I
would make this change and l would
clean out the squad itself and put
other men in it.
Hits Civil Service Promotions.
Questioned on the number OF men
now on the homicide squad, he re-
piled that there are six, but that
there should be at least 10.
What do you think Of the Civil