Evening star., 1941-11-23

A modern, cross-indexed identihca-
ton file being built up row on row in
the Detective Bureau promises swift
retribution to all types of criminal re
peaters" in the future.
The mode of operation" file is di-
vided into trays containing photographs
and descriptions of one particular kind
of offender known to commit certain
crimes in his own individual style. For
instance, there are II classifications un-
Ger sex crimes" alone.
Thus the victim of criminal assault,
say, who also had been robbed or beaten,
can come to headquarters and look over
a tray of pictures of men either con-
victed or suspected of attacks of this
special nature. The pictures are all
laid out for inspection. readily avail
able with their hinged backs and. cello
phane covers.
On the reverse side of the pictures
are brief case histories. giving names.
various addresses, hangouts, race and
names of friends and associates. Even
when a victim cannot, for various rea-
sons, identify photograph, he can mar
row the suspects down to a group small
enough for investigators to eliminate
them individually, or obtain incrimi-
mating evidence as the case may be.
Offenders known to have committed
more than one type of crime are on file
m the other trays as many times as
their activities warrant. This same
system was not in operation be-
fore the recent shape-up and modern
ization of the Detective Bureau under
Inspector Richard Mansfield. The mode
of operation" file has been added to
permit identifications in the least posi-
BILE time.
An ideal functioning of the system
would have resulted in the early arrest
of suspect recently convicted for a
repeated often by the same man, police
charged, in Washington in recent
months. This mans habits, hangouts,
friends and acquaintance were on file,
but in a different file from that in which
his picture was displayed to witnesses
who had seen him.
Another innovation of the new police
laboratory is modern by 10 inch
studio camera for taking stand up"
groups of suspects Men known to run in
a particular gang can be photographed
together. An investigator can find
single suspects picture in the file and
from a key number put his hands on
hot ov,I, cb h L,,a
associates.
Such interesting group photographs.
investigators say. are strong induce
ments for mobs to disband by mutual
consent.
The mode of operation" file classi-
artists, extortionists, pocketbook trick
sters, mail fraud operators, card sharks,
penny matchers, diamond switchers, In
ternational con men, short change art
lists, three-card monte operators and
pigeon droppers-the last being spe-
cialist who drops loaded pocketbooks in
the sight of unwary victims later to be
fleeced by confederates on the division
of the find.
The elaborate new Photographic lab
oratories are under direction of Ira
Guillickson, who is a document and
handwriting expert The equipment in
cludes an automatic printing machine
for the routine, 3 by 5 inch rogues gall
lery pictures, an automatic drying ma
chine, print washers, developing and
chemical mixing rooms and a modern
enlarger for fingerprints and other evi-
dence often wanted for presentation to
trial juries.
Police headquarters in the new Mu-
nicipal Building also contains a room
for complete chemical laboratory for
scientific crime detection. All the elec-
trio, gas and plumbing connections were
installed, but request for funds to
provide laboratory equipment as origi-
nally planned has not been approved.
Mr.. Guillickson. however, has obtained
equipment for ultra violet and mira
red ray examination of suspected docu-
ments.
The Identification staff is now OBJ
tanning and filing some 5000 to 5000
new sets Of fngerprints q month. in
cluding those Of defense workers. taxi
cab drivers. volunteer police and fire.
men for the civil defense setup. % well