Evening star., 1941-07-01
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

The Detective Bureau Is the
weakest link" in the entire Police
Department, Capt. Floyd A. Truscott
of the 10th precinct today told the
House committee investigating the
organization.
A former ace detective In the bu-
reau, Capt. Truscott declared that
this unit is rampant with jealousies,
that teams are not properly matched,
that there is lack of equipment
and that some Of its best men have
taken other assignments because of
existing conditions.
The attack on the Detective Bu-
reau followed q statement by Chair
man Schultz that he had heard
charges that it was "bungling" ever
case assigned TO it.
Not all the best men on the force
are III the Detective Bureau" de
clared Capt Truscott. Some OF
the outstanding men left when they
could because of existing condi-
tions"
One of the outstanding" men who
was glad to get out" he said, is Ii.
Robert Barrett.
Bad Team Matching Charged.
Capt. Truscott pointed out thst
not only is the Detective Bureau
the weakest link" in the depart
ment. but it is the one that causes
the most trouble"
Where you have matched teams.
you get good work, he said, The
men there now are not properlY
matched in temperament or fbility.
Some of them don't even speak to
each other I nave heard Of cases
where member of team would go
to the inspector without the knowl-
edge of his partner in order TO give
the inspector an impression that Re
was getting all the information
Capt. Truscott agreed with a
statement made to the committee
yesterday by Capt. Harvey G. Gala
han of the first precinct that the
department as a whole is only Is
per cent efficient.
Man power is not our basic
trouble" he declared.
You have got siX-cvlinder
Police Department hitting on four
cylinders" remarked Representative
Hebert, Democrat, of Louisiana, who
proposed the investigation.
That's right" was the reply.
Supports "Gestapo" Charge.
Despite a denial by Police Supt.
Ernest w. Brown that there is
"Gestapo" in the Police Department
which is used to spy on other mem
bers, Capt. Truscott said there vss
such a unit and that its activities
haG demoralized the force.
The "Gestapo" squad, he said. Is
the confidential investigating uni
of the Detective Bureau headed b.
Acting Capt. Earl P. Hartman.
Capt. Truscott testified he was
placed at the head of the confidential
unit when it was organized and was
relieved Of that duty in 1888 and
Acting Capt. Hartman succeeded
him.
The duties Of the squad original
", Capt. Truscott explained, were
to cooperate with Federal agencies
in an investigation Of racing news
syndicate "bootleggine information
to bookmakers and gamblers. Since
then, he declared. there have been
many ramifications in its duties, but
even while he was at the head of
it certain police officers came into
the picture and we had to investi-
gate them"
Doesn't Fear Reprisals.
Asked if he thought there would
be any "rsprisals' as result OF his
testimony, Capt. Truscott declared:
IF reprisals come they will be IN
some unusual form that can't be
traced back. However, I'm not wor-
ried about that"
Capt. Truscott opened his testi-
mony with a statement that "a
number of things can and should
be done to increase the efficiency
not only of the uniformed force
but also the Detective Bureau"
He suggested that competent"
police official should make a COM
prehensive survey of the depart
ment and recommend changes that
would "streamline" it.
There are a very few men, to
my mind, who are competent to do
that job" he went on.
Commissioners Hazen and Young
listened attentively as Capt. Trus-
colt testified.
Every organization needs more
(See POLICE, Page A-4)