Evening star., 1946-01-08
Inspector Callahan Plans Slow, Studied Changes
After Becoming Police Department Head Feb.
Col. KelIy's Successor
Joined Force in 1920
And Advanced Rapidly
By J. THEODORE CROWN.

BY J. THEODORE CROWN.
Inspector Harvey G. Callahan,
who was named yesterday to sue
.ceed Col. Edward J. Kelly February
] as superintendent Of the Metro
politan Police Department, will pro-
coed slowly and methodically with
any changes in the organization, he
said today.
Inspector Callahan, who started
wearing uniforms at the age of l4I
when he was bellhop during the
summer months at Mount Pocono
resorts, said II don't expect to make
any sudden changes in the Police
Department, but am going to look
the situation over"
He said, however, he realizes cer-
tain things in the Police Depart
ment need changing.
One Of his aims will be closer
corporation and coordination be-
tween the uniformed branch of the
department and Detective Bureau.
From the general trend of crime
following any war, he said, this
cooperation will be necessary.
Eyes Certain Practices.
The new police chief said he plans
to keep his eyes on all the precincts,
bureaus and divisions. Some long
standing practices will stop in cases
where they are not complying with
the police regulations, he continued.
He declined, however, to specify the
practices he has in mind.
Inspector Callahan also declared
some regulations in the police
manual are antiquated and he said
he plans to bring these up-to-date.
For example, there is a provision
in the manual for sergeants to
signal to men on beats by striking
their nightsticks on the curb or
blowing two-tone whistle. In
spector Callahan pointed out that
If a sergeant should try that in the
downtown area now it couldn't be
heard for a block.
Born in Brooklyn, N. Y, on June
20, 1895, Inspector Callahan re-
manned there until he was IL years
old when his mother moved to-
Tobyhanna, Pa. His father died
when he was 8 years old. He re-
ceived his education in the Penn
sylvania town and was graduated
from the high school there.
Saw Capital As Soldier.
During high school vacations, In
spector Callahan worked as bell
hop at summer resort hotels at
Mount Pocono. At the age of II he
went to Jersey City, N. j., and
worked during the summer for an
express company.
In the spring of 1914, Inspector
Callahan started worrying his
mother about becoming an amba-
lance driver for the French Red
Cross. His mother was opposed to
this. Shortly afterward, Inspector
Callahan sneaked away and joined
the Army.
His first training field was Fort
Myer, Va, and it was then he got
his first glimpse Of Washington. He
spent more than year at Fort Myer
before being transferred to the
Mexican border for patrol there.
Inspector Callahan remained in the
South for nearly two years before
he was returned to Fort Myer to go
overseas.
When he arrived in France, In
pector Callahan was assigned to
Onicers Training School under Brig.
Gen. Pelham d. Glassford. who later
headed the Metropolitan Police De-
partment during the bonus march
days.
While fighting in the Argonne
Forest on November 7, 1918, Inspec-
tor Callahan had his horse shot
from under him by German "77."
Inspector Callahan says all that was
hurt was his dignity, but for his
skinned knuckles and bruised knees
he was awarded the Purple Heart.
For a year after the war he was with
the Army of Occupation
Joined Force in 1920.
After his discharge Inspector CAL
lahan tried his hand at being a rail-
road fireman for a short time. In
order to "eat better" he joined the
police force on May 26, 1920 He said
at that time the Police Department
was advertising for men in all sep
aration centers.
During his police career, (which
started in the second precinct, In
spector Callahan was promoted with
great rapidity. He always accepted
every opportunity to further his edu-
cation and attended the FBI Acad-
emy, the University of Maryland
Traffic School and studied criminal
law for two years at Columbus Uni
versity while he was on the police
force.
From 1885 to 1899, Inspector CAL
lahan was commanding officer of the
first precinct, Washington's busiest,
and was then named the first police
officer to become chief clerk of the
Police Department. After a year of
this he was reassigned to the first
precinct, where he remained until he
was promoted to the grade of in