Evening star., 1941-06-27
By JAMES e. CHINN.

Some Washington policemen have
heats covering so blocks, Inspector
James F. Beckett. acting superlr1-
tendent of police, disclosed today as
the enlarged Police and Fire Sub
committee of the House District
Committee began its investigation
of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment.
Inspector Beckett, the first wit
ness, made the disclosure in re-
Spouse to questions by Representa-
tive Sauthoff, Progressive, of Wis
consin.
Mr.. Sauthoff explained he has
lived for five months on Chevy Chase
Parkway and occasionally goes with
his wife and children to house in
the neighborhood, returning home
about II pm, but has yet TO see 2
policeman.
What becomes of these offlcers?'
he asked. Are they playing card
somewhere"
"Oh, no-oh, no." exclaimed In
spector Beckett.
Reason Advanced.
Since some officers sometime
have have beat covering so block,
the police official pointed out, this
NAV have been the reason Mr..
Sauthoff had failed to see a police
man.
u might not see that particular
officer said Mr.. Sauthoff, but
think l might have seen an officer
once in a while"
Chairman Schultz soon afterVard
asked a question:
DO you. Inspector think II Is
fair to the people of a section
where a policeman has beat OF
so olocks?"
NO" he replied. 1T Is not only
unfair to the people. but it also
is unfair to the officer.
Asked by Mr.. Schultz what he
thought should be the maximum
beat of a foot patrolman, Inspector
Beckett replied: Six blocks in the
business area and not 10 exceed 10
blocks in the residential area"
Few Dropped for Inefficiency.
1IlNDeNSOI oGIhClI dlSO 04SNAOSIo I
the apparent amazement Of several
members of the subcommittee that
in the last eight or 10 years. only
eight or 10 members Of the force
had been dismissed for inefhciency.
That's a remarkable record for
efficiency" remarked Representative
Hebert, Democrat. of Louisiana. at
whose request the investigation was
initiated.
AS the inquiry started, Chairman
Schultz served notice it would not
be "a purge or smear campaign
We want to find out" he said,
whether the department has suf-
ficient number of men, whether the
officers are efficient and whether
the equipment is up to date. Our
aim will be to benefit the depart
ment, not to hurt il"
Complaint was made by Chair
man Schultz that the police have
too much messenger work to per-
form after Inspector Beckett
brought out that the officers cannot
be on their beats at all times be-
cause they have to serve subpoena5
in criminal cases, as we'll as notices
Of suspension of automobile drivers
permits. and check on permits is
sued to business establishments. In
addition, he declared eight members
of the force are assigned to duty
with the Alcoholic Beverage Con-
troll Board to check up on tavern5
and liquor stores and 13 others de-
vote full time to public vehicle in
spection.
Schultz Offers Plan.
Saying there are too many frllls
and fancieS in the Police Depart
ment, Mr.. Schultz proposed that
civilians clothed with police power
be employed to investigate taproonls
and liquor stores, serve notices OF
the Department of Traffic and We
hicles and do other messenger
work" to relieve policemen now per-
forming these duties for foot patrol
assignments.
Inspector Beckett agreed the idea
was good.
CSCllIdlINC LII hoClA VI 44A1AAp4S'
ranking minority member of the
House District Committee, who sat
with the investigating subcommit-
tee as an observer-he is not a
member of that group-disapproved
Mr. Schulte's suggestion. He said
he believed policemen could contlnue
TO serve subpoenas, traffic bureau
notices and check up on taxlcabs.
business establishments. etc, with
out impairing the efficiency of ths
department.
Mr.. DirkSen also expressed SUR
prise at a statement of Inspector
Beckett that only one member of the
Police Department had taken a
course of training at the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Il can't conceive that more men
on the police force are not interested
in the F. B. I. course" said Inspector
Beckett. Il suppose they feel that
their own course of training in the
police school is so thorough that