Evening star., 1941-06-30
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

A general shake-up would not
bring about an improvement in the
Metropolitan Police Department, In.
spector James F. Beckett, acting
superintendent, told a House sub
committee investigating the depart
ment today.
Inspector Beckett made the state
ment in response to direct question
by Chairman Schultz as to whether
a shake-up would bring about .
healthy condition"
mo, I don't think So" the police
official said. Il believe that in the
Police Department, as in every othe,
department, there are a few men
that could aid should be elm
mated"
Inspector Beckett paid glowing
tribute to Police Supt. Ernest W
Brown and the general rank and
file of the force, and pointed out
that what the department needs is
more men and more equipment.
Questioned on Efficiency.
Chairman Schultz and Repre-
sentative Hebert, Democrat, of Louis
lana, who proposed the investigation.
questioned Inspector Beckett about
the efficiency of the force and the
failure of all except one of its Of
ficers-Capt. Harvey Callahan of
the first precinct-to take course
of instruction in the police training
school conducted by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Chairman Schultz proposed COM
pulsory retirement of all officers
over 60 years of age but Inspector
Beckett retahated with a statement
that there are number of men on
the force over so who are giving
efficient service.
DO you mean to tell me that
some of these men over so could
60 into some of the precincts and
protect themselves?" Mr.. Schultz
asked
Some of them could" the inspec-
tor replied.
Statement Deplored.
Just before Inspector Beckett took
the witness stand, Mr.. Hebert de-
plored statement printed in some
newspapers last week quoting
member of the House District Com
mittee as saying the investigation
would be "a fishing expedition" and
that he could write the investigation
groups report before it started the
inquiry. He did not name the mem
ber. The member quoted in the
press, however, was Representative
Dirksen of Illinois. ranking minority
member of the District Committee.
L want it distinctly understood
that this is not a fishing expedi-
ton" Mr.. Hebert said. "I don't
want to prejudice anything 1 GER
tainly know I can't write a report
on the investigation right now, and
1 want to deplore the statement
which one member of the District
Committee was quoted as having
made last week"
Chairman Schultz followed with a
statement that there would be
nothing sensational about the in
vestigation.
We are going to carry on In a
peaceful way to find out what the
Police Department needs" he said.
AS soon as Inspector Beckett took
the witness stand, Chairman Schultz
asked him if all the officers in the
department are efficient.
Fine Group of Men, He Saws.
l think the Police Department
the members as whole-are the
finest bunch of men I have ever had
to deal with,' he replied. 1T is an
honor and a privilege to work with
them. don't know where you could
ind finer group of men"
Inspector Beckett then began a
two-minute tribute to Mai. Brown.
who is confined to his home with an
infected food.
1 don't believe" he said. "that
there has ever been in the history
OF Washington chief of police
comparable to Mai Brown.
Too much cannot be said for his
benefit, his loyalty and devotion to
service. I feel that the people of
the District should be very grate-
ful for having a man of his caliber.
good judgment and temperament at
the head of the Police Department.
The people should support him 100
per cent. Every man in the depart
ment appreciates him, his tempera-