Evening star., 1947-06-22

8 precinct. On October /, 1945, he
moved to No. 2 as commander.
Appointed to administrative head
quarters January 16, 1916, as acting
executive officer, he was given that
status permanently with the retire
ment of the late Col. Edward J.
Kelly, February l, 1916.
Inspector Thomas has five COM
mendations to his credit. He went
before the police board January 81,
1926, for failure to report a collision
case and for calling at the home of
couple involved at las am. to dis
cuss the case in a rough and un-
gentlemanly manner" He was found
guilty on thei first charge and
warned.
Limited In early education to that
gained from a three-room graded
school at Forrestville, Nd, Inspector
Fowler, SO, used his own funds and
time to improve himself after join
ing the force lin June, 1919.
Directs Academy.
Now he is director and headmas-
ter of the Washington Police
Academy. He attended night school
for one and a half years, attended
old Columbia Tech for six months
and attended former Columbus Uni
versity for two years for courses in
criminal procedure, evidence and
criminology.
Later he enrolled in six-week
traffic course at Northwestern Uni
versity, a correspondence course in
photography and course IN the
handling of explosives at Edgewood
(Md.) Arsenal.
Inspector Fowler began his career
as. 1st precinct patrolman, trans
ferred to the vice squad and became
precinct detective his second year
on the force. His record lists him
as having shot one John Fant in
line of duty in August, 1921. He was
warned once for making arrests
without warrants.
He became a detective sergeant
in 1922, lieutenant in 1880 and
II years later a captain in charge
of the 18th precinct. In 1941 he
took charge of the police school as
captain.
Letterman Headed Vice Squad.
Inspector Letterman, Sc, built a
understanding reputation when
he was a Misunderstanding lieu
tenant heading the vice squad.
Gambling houses and those Of ques-
tionable reputation were his targets.
They learned to fear him in 1929
when he headed a special squad to
reduce gambling, then at it's peak.
Before entering the department in
June, 1921, he served II years in
the regular Army and year on the
Kansas City police force.
In February, 1925, he resigned
from the Metropolitan force and
joined the White House police, re-
turning to the District department
the following year as a sergeant in
the first precinct. After his pro-
motion to inspector, he served at
headquarters for while as head
of the vice squad and last February
was transferred to the first district.
He has nine Communications for
combating robberies and vice.
In November, 1923, he was tried
and found not guilty on a charge of
conduct unbecoming an officer and
for using unnecessary violence to-
ward a prisoner.
Born in Hilltop, Kan, Al years
ago. Capt. Truscott moved to the
District when II and attended
Maury School and Central High
School. He quit school at II, told
the Army recruiter he was Is. and
served a year with the Army AM
bulance Corps.
After the war he had a varied
career as a grocery clerk, Health
Department inspector, travelling
salesman, Postoffce clerk, and a
clerk in the Veterans Administra-
ton and Census Bureau.
He turned to the police force May
27, 1925, to start an outstanding
record in crime detection.
He helped solve the Wimbley-
Crowder American Tragedy muir
der in September. 1881, the Milsie
Henry gang murder in April, 1882,
and figured prominently in round
ing up the Tri-State Gang OF rob-
bers and murderers. In 1884 he
solved the murder Of Allen Wilson, a
newspaper route agent who was mis-
taken for gambler.
In June, 1882, he was named to
special bank robbery squad and
on July l, 1885, was promoted to
lieutenant in charge of the squad.
He headed racket-busting gam
bling squad in the spring of 1887,
helping to make 100 cases with the
help of wire tapping. The cases
were lost when the Supreme Court
ruled out that method of gaining
information.
Commander in Navy.
Tn January 1899. he became a