Evening star., 1941-07-03
Hartman Admits
Probing Officers
For City Heads
. Investigation Squad
Commander Denies
'Gestopo' Charges
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Recent unSolped Staying OF Jes-
sic Elizabeth Strict Uus tolloped
quickly By Investigations of Po-
lice Department by congressional
subcommittee and Commission
ers. At Capitol subcommittee has
been told force is only Is per cent
efficient, that there is too much
politics, that there is q suspicion
among force members Of "Ges-
tdpo" reporting on indiriduul po-
hcemen to their superiors, and
that the DetectiUe Bureau is the
departments UenkeSt link. Yes
terduy it tUns charged that the
Commissioners Were responsible
for police inefciencg.
BY JAMES F.. CHINN.
Acting Capt. Earl P Hartman,
commander of the Police Depart
ment's special investigations squad,
shouted an indignant denial today
before the House subcommittee in
vestiga ting the department to the
charges that his unit is a "Gestapo"
that spies on policemen. He angrilv
denounced those who made the ac-
cusa alton.
He did, however, admit under
severe cross-examination that his
squad had investigated two police
men on order of the Commissioners
and that as a result they had been
dismissed on charges of taking
graft" These men he named as Leo
Murray and H. E. Brodie.
St0rmiest Session OF Inquiry.
Acting Capt. Hartman. belligerent
from the outset of his appearance on
the witness stand. frequently clashed
With Acting Chairman Hebert. who
demanded that he stop running
around the bush" 1t was by far the
stormiest session of the committee
since the investigation started.
Asked by Mr.. Hebert if there is
"gestapo" in the department Of
which he is the head, he declared.
Absolutely no."
The charges about a 'gestapo are
false and l wouldn't stoop so low as
to spy on my fellow officers" He
added Il would hand in my resig-
nation first"
Capt. Hartman also described the
Detective Bureau as inefficient and
blamed existing conditions on its
former commander, Inspector Ber-
nard w. Thompson, who is on leave
and expects TO be retired. He eX-
pressed the belief that the bureau
would not be improved under its
present commander. Capt. Ira z.
Keck. who. he declared, hasn't tbs
background and the experience" to
head such an important unit of the
department
Engage in Several Tits.
After Mr.. Hartman and Repre-
sentative Hebert had tangled several
times the acting committee chair
man said to him:
I've been trying for 10 minutes
to get you to tell that your men in
vestieated brother officers. If YOU
had answered at first We would have
saved a lot of time If you'll begin
to answer without running around
the bush we'll get along better"
As soon as Mr.. Hartman took the
witness stand, Representative Hebert
told him:
You are not on trial"
Il am not afraid" said Mr. Hart
man, there are two things ! have
courage and ingenuity-and l am
proud of it.
There isn't anything in your rec
ord or anything that I've done that
will apologize for
Mr.. Hebert wanted to know il
Mr.. Hartman had made an effort to
attend the police training school OF
the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
He replied that he was always seek
ing to improve himself, but he is 4s
years of age and that disqualified
him from attending the school,
Department Praised.
Later Mr. Hartman described the
Washington Police Department as
Continued on Page AS, Column ~