Evening star., 1941-07-07
By JAMES E. CHINN.


politan Police Department prevent
officers from maintaining important
contacts with underworld characters.
1t. Robert J. Barrett OF the third
precinct told a House subcommittee
TODAY as it started a second week
of investigation of the department.
Under examination by Repre-
sentative Sauthotf, Progressive, OF
Wisconsin. 1t. Barrett was asked
whetha the deDartment was i'm
proved since Inspector Bernard
Thompson, chief Ct detectives, had
left for eventual retirement. with
Capt. Ira c. Keck temporarily in
charge.
Prefers Keck TO Thompson.
Il don't know" said 1t. Barrett
Il haven't been in the bureau. But
I would rather DC detective under
Keck than under Thompson. Keck
at least will talk to YOU"
DO you mean Inspector Thomp-
son would not talk 10 you?"
Thompson would holler at you
and so forth" the witness replied.
1t. Barrett added that "Thomp-
son was haro to get along with
Hard to approach?'
Hard TO approach and hard n
talk to when you did approach
him
The officer declared he would say
"Keck was 80 per cent better than
/ Thompson" as detective chief.
1t. Barrett. formerly an outstand-
ing detective sergeant who left the
Detective Bureau last August 10 60
back in uniform in precinct be-
cause Of conditions existing there a.
] that time. declared it is disgrace
now for an officer to be seen seeking
information from gambler.
Asked by Acting Chairman Hebert
if there is a "Gestapo" in the de-
partment that spies on policemen,
the lieutenant declared:
There's something-I don't know
what you call it
Are you positive?"
Yes"
Not Pressed on Spies.
Police Superintendent Ernest W.
Brown and Acting Capt. Earl p.
Hartman. commander Of the special
Investigations squad - the unit
charged with being the "Gestapo"
last week vehemently denied that
it was a spy outfit
In view OF those denials, Mr..
! Hebert asked:
DO you make that statement In
the face of the denials of Maj.
Brown and Capt. Hartmann"
Il don't care TO answer that
question 1t. Barrett replied.
He was not pressed TO answer 1t.
1t. Barret charged at the outset
of his testimony that there were
petty jealousies in the Detective Bu-
reau while he was attached to it
and that 'favoritism" was shown
TO some OF the officers.
He agreed with some of the earlier
witnesses that the bureau should be
reorganized and that all detectives
those in the precincts as well as
those attached to the Detective Bu-
reau at MISUNDERSTANDING be
placed under one commander
You would get results twice as
good if there was only one head"
he declared.
Says Contacts Are Necessary.
1t. Barrett dwelt at some length
on the Importance of a police officer
maintaining contacts with the
underworld in order to get informa-
ton that would aid in the solution
of crimes. Making and keeping such
contacts, he pointed out, is half of
the job
1T used to be o. K. to maintain
these contacts" he said, but to be
seen talking to a gambler now is q
disgrace I'm afraid to talk to one"
What do you mean-that you
will be reported?" inquired Mr..
Hebert.
Yes came the reply.
In the old days when the De-
tective Bureau was down in the
District Building" he continued.
gamblers used 10 wait outside to
give the detectives information after
roll CALL
1t. Barrett cited a case of two
| detectives who were called on the
telephone by gambler during
roll call. They rushed out, he said.
and returned short time later with
suit case filled with sawed of
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