Evening star., 1941-12-03
100 New Policemen
Not 10 Be Put on
Duty Immediately
Nearly Year Probably
To EIopse Before They
Are Properly Trained


None Of the 100 additional men
made available to the Metropolitan
Police Department by an authorize
tion effective last Monday will be
on the streets in the near future,
it was indicated today at police
headquarters, and nearly year
probably will elapse before all are
properly trained members of the
force
Further, no inkllng could be given
when the four super detective"
posts authorized to carry the S3600-
rer-year pay of captain would be
filled.
TeChnicahtles of Civil Service
Commission procedure were given
as the principal reason for delay
in actually swearing IN the men.
sought for many months by police
officials and civic groups. 1t was
said today that the first so probably
would take the oath about January
! and the remaining so about Feb
ruary IS.
Early Action Prevented.
1t. John Agnew. who is inter-
viewing applicants certified by the
Civil Service Commission, explained
that commission rules barred
certilcation of men for the posi-
tons until the authorization be-
came effective and Jobs actually
we're in existence. Thus, he pointed
out, police officials were prevented
from lining up men Immediately
upon passage of the authorization
by Congress or even upon its being
signed by the President.
Because of the unusually large
number Of tralnees, the 12-week
course in the Police School is being
split. However, officials feel this will
prove an advantage since those who
have received six weeks instruction
in the fundamentals Will be given
period of practical experience in the
precincts before returning for the
advanced class.
A class of 38 is scheduled to COM
plete the first six weeks Of schooling
on the last day OF this month, but
this group is composed OF men
slated to fill previous vacancies in
the department and includes none
Of the additional 100 authorized.
They Will Return Later.
The present plan calls for sending
the initial 30 additional men TO
school for six weeks beginning about
the first Of the year, after which
the second 50 Will get their prelim-
inary instruction. Then, the 38 now
in school are due to return TO COM
plete the course.
Even after this group has grad
uated,' prospects are that the S}dl-
tlCnal mon Will have to wait for heir
second six weeks of classes. This
probable further delay IS OcCasioned
by the necessity Of getting a start
on training a number of men needed
TO replace members of the force to
he retired under the Commissioners
6t-year-age limit and to care for
the usual 5 per cent annual turnover
in the department. an official eX-
planned.
1t. Beverly Beach is in charge of
the school.
L was revealed that one Of the 38
mon now in training expects to be
called for military service by 2 draft
beard in his home State. New York.
AlthoUgh no request for blanket de-
forment has been made, policemen
registered for Selective service here
have furnished their boards with
letters stating their duties and few
have been called.
Uniforms Give Difficulty.
The matter of providing the new
policemen with uniforms IS present.
ing difficulties necessitatine the
placing Of orders despite A move by
Inspector Milton D. Smith. in charge
Of clothing and equipment.
Inspector Smith found that
number Of detectives had in their
possession uniforms which had seen
virtually no use. since these men
were detailed to plainclothes work
He reclaimed more than s37o0
worth. OfiCials estimate the pro-
cedure will save the District about
81 500.
The new men are being selected
with view 10 the ideal physique
for policeman. This pattern calls
for simmer figures than those OF
some detectives who turned in their
uniforms.
In connection with the four expert
detectives. II was explained that the
DELAY there is caused by absence OF
examinations. Off1cials said the type
of test had not been decided upon
by the Civil Service Commission. and
they expressed themselves as uncer-
tain what requirements for the jobs
would be.
II was said today al headquarters
that January 5 is tho probable date
for the first class in the Washington
Police Academy. which will serve
as the departments institution Of
higher learning.
Classes in the traffic school have
heen suspended until after the
Christmas rush, it was announced.
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