Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-14
Hopes for Police Adequacy
Dealt Blow in New Budget
KeIIy's Request for 200 Officers HuIved;
Pay Raise for WPDW Operators Refused

One of the few District agencies
that got anything worth while in
the 1914 budget was the Metropoli-
tan Police Department. But even
it did not get all it feels it needs
Maj. Edward J. Kelly. superin-
tendent of police, asked for 200 ad-
dltional men and some minor things.
| The budget however, will allow him
100 more policemen and a few of the
less important things he requested,
such as new scout cars and $4,l76,-
795 to keep the department in OPP
Grafton for the 12-month period
beginning July l. Maj. Kelly had
! asked 1884 1882 to run the depart
ment in the current fiscal year and
/ 1922, Alb increases will be absorbed
principally by salaries for the 100
additional men and their equipment
Uniforms, revolver, ammunition,
etc.
The worst blow to Mai. Kelly was
the halving of his request for 200
more policemen which he claimed
he needed to give war-crowded
Washington something approach
ing adequate protection.
Ratio to Population.
In the days before the war, the
ratio of police to population figured
at 2.3 police for each 1000 of popu-
lation, using the police strength at
1916 for 1941 fiscal year and the
estimated population at that time
at 667 900. Now. with the estimate
of civilian population of the Dis
trict, not including resident mill
tary and naval personnel. placed by
the Census Bureau at 82l ,299, as of
last May l, the authorized police
strength for this fiscal year of It'll
would place the ratio at 2 police per
thousand population.
Maj. Kelly said he needs at least
5000 men properly to police war;
time Washington. He said Mayor
La Guardia of New York mentioned
that figure in a recent conversation
with him and he agreed.
The Commissioners, in support of
Maj. Kelly's request for 200 addi-
tional men pointed out in justify
ing his assertion the present police
force is inadequate. that residents
of the District will not continue
to get the protection which they
/ have right to expect unless there
is a substantial increase in police
personnel"
Center of War Effort.
The Commissioners further de-
clared in their plea to the Budget
Bureau for the 200 additional po-
licemen: Washington might at
present be considered the center of
the war effort. With the construc-
ton of Government departments
and the addition of numerous new
war agencies, including those of for
eign powers, the population has
grown by leaps and bounds The
number of visitors to the city is be-
yond estimation, though a scarcity
of hotel accommodations and travel
facilities gives some indication of
the magnitude of the influx.
1T naturally follows that any in
crease in the population and activi-
ties of the city is directly reflected
in the duties of the Police Depart
ment. The White House needs adj
dltional attention. Various Embas-
sizes and other vital points must be
guarded. Strangers must be di-
rected. Traffic must be controlled.
Persons returning from work late
at night must be protected, and
numerous other duties are added"
The 200 additional men requested
by Maj. Kelly, the Commissioners
told the Budget Bureau, would
bring the police force to sufficient
strength at present, but they added
"it is hard to estimate future needs"