Evening star., 1941-08-28
City Heads Expected
To Back Suggestions
To Improve Police
Mandatory Retirement
At "a Is Included;
Four Officers Indicted

the Ponce department MADE yeSter-
day by board of District officials
including one providing for manda-
tory retirement of police officers at
the age of 64-accordtng to indica-
tions today at the District Building
The board, headed by Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Beverly G.
Snow. recommended that no police
man be retained in active service
beyond the age of Ga and that no
officer who has not reached the
grade OF inspector be retained be-
yond the age of so.
While the Commissioners said
they were not prepared to pass in
dividually on the long list of sug-
gestions. 1t was made clear, that
their reaction was favorable TO the
reduced retirement limits, or at least
something similar.
Young Pledges Prompt Action.
At the present time there is no
definite mandatory retirement age.
The Commissioners, in their discre-
ton. may order the retirement of a
policeman at the age of so If the
man has had IS years of service.
The policemen may apply for re-
tirement after reaching the age of
S. with IS years service. Some Of
ficers have continued their service
beyond these age limits.
Commissioner John Russell Young
said he had studied the report OF the
onl tlnlIoht II
was "a very good list of suggestions"
and predicted unanimous approval
would be given by the city heads to
perhaps as much as 80 per cent of
the list.
Commissioner Young promised
prompt action would be taken and
said it was his plan to call Acting
Supt. Edward j. Kelly before the
board within a few days for a dis
cussion with the Commissioners on
each item.
1t appeared likely the Commis-
sioners would approve the commit.
tees plan, or something similar, for
enlargement and improvement, of
the work of the police training
school, to provide more and better
instruction for all the men and for
specialized training for police Of
f1cers.
Pickup Squad Probable.
It appeared probable also that the
Commissioners would indorse plans
for creation of pickup squad, that
Congress would be urged to approve
legislation for a stronger vagrancy
law and for heavier penalties for
habitual criminals and for revision
Of the civil service system for police
promotions so that greater weight
would be given for actual experience
as against educational qualifications.
On this latter question, the Snow
Committee recommended:
That the promotion system be
continued except the relative weights
of ratings by the Rating Board Of
INSPECTORS aud niATEssss abtained
through civil service exams should
be so for the boards rating and 4O
for the civil service exams instead
of $3.50 as at present, provided that
no authority higher tlaaa.ths mem.
bers ,of the Rating HpAtu Stall in.
crease or decrease the ratings OF
the board.
THAT care be exercised by the
assistant superintendent and per-
sonnel officer in submitting exanll-
nation questions to the Civil Service
Commission, to insure that the queS-
tions when answered will give an
accurate indication of the officers
ability to perform the duties OF the
grade to which he seeks to be pro-
NOTED.
Appeals Recommended.
THAT, after ratings have been
riven by the board, each man shall
be Immediately notified as to the
rating given and may. If he>deems
his rating to be unjust, submit an
appeal in writing to the board with
IN five days. whereupon the board
shall hear the facts in the case,
confirm or change its rating, and
send same to the Civil Service Com
mission, which shall have no au-
thority to increase or decrease the
rating, provided that no appeal shall
be considered by the Rating Board
which is not submitted in writing
to the board within five days after
receipt of notification of the boards
rating"
Because of the probability of a
change in the promotion formula
no reliable indication could be OBJ
tained today as to the officers likely
TO take the old posts of the three
captains elevated to the rank OF
inspector by the Commissioners yes
terday.
Acting Supt. Edward J. Kelly, who
was promoted formally from in
spector to assistant superintendent
In yesterdays action, led the group
of four sworn in today at police
headquarters after passing physical
examinations given by the Board OF
Police and Fire Surgeons. The others
were Inspector Richard H. Mans
field, new assistant superintendent
and chief of the Detective Bureau;
Inspector Harvey G. Callahan, new
hSSlobdllU SupCl CllllVClleACiib anu ShSSo-
tive officer, and Inspector Milton D.
Smith, who was placed in charge OF
police uniforms and equipment.
Officers Sworn In.
Acting Supt. Kelly was sworn in
by Capt. Lawrence Beall, chief clerk
of the department. The former then
inducted the other three men.
Members of the families of the
officers promoted witnessed the cere-
monies, as did other officers attached
to headquarters and members of the
secretarial staff.
Inspectors Mansfield, Callahan
and Smith began familiarizing
themselves with their duties this
morning.
Inspector Mansfield bade farewell
to the men of No. 9 precinct, his
former command at the 8 am. roll
call. More than 80 policemen, from
two shifts, gathered around for pres
entation of a watch.
Notes From Children.
When the department officer
stepped into his Office in the station
house. he found notes from a num-
l. l..