Evening star., 1948-06-25
New PoIiceD
System TOGO in
Effect Shortly
Mechanical Counts
On Crime and Traffic
To Be Provided

A new statistical system for the
Police Department, providing a
complete day-by-day picture of the
city's crime and recording all traf-
fic data mechanically, will go into
full gear next month.
1t. Earl P. Hartman, who heads
the departments statistical ONCE,
said today the new traffic setup will
make possible fast mechanical
counts for use as guides in promot-
ing trafic safety.
The revised system of recording
trafhc accidents goes into effect
July l.
The departments revised crime
reporting setup was ordered last
February /. 1t. Hartman estimated
that it will be current by July 10.
At that time, he said, he will be
able to give daily summary OF
crime within 4s hours OF its oc-
currence
Core of the System.
Core of the system is the punch
card equipment. A variety OF IN
formation Is coded from police re-
ports, the code is translated in terms
of holes in the punch cards and
electric equipment automatically ar
ranges and counts the cards for the
required statistics.
On nontrafflc information, LII.
Hartman said the main difference
between the new and the old system
is in the extent Of the information
punched on the cards. For instance,
he said, As columns of information
could be punched on the old CARDS
The nev, caros carry 80 columns.
Among the new items are the
number of offenders involved In
crime, the hour of day it occurred
the method used, property stolen
and recovered. whether or not 1t
was insured. whether the report was
false and how the case was closed.
50 Methods of Crime.
The new code from which the
cards are punched lists SO different
methods of committing crime from
ambush to yoking. =.
There are Al different types OF
weapons coded from the familiar
blunt instrument" to a water glass.
The code of stolen property carries
81 possibilities from opera glasses
to motor scooter.
On the trafic cards, 1t. Hartman
said the information now Will be
so detailed that an expert will be
able to get a story like this one just
from looking at the holes on the
card:
"A 1914 truck operated by white
man, Is years old, with odor OF al
cohol on his breath, while driving
north on Fifteenth street NV. while
in front of (exact address, collided
with a 1947 sedan operated by a
woman. pulling out from the curb.
The sedan turned over and operator
and occupant were seriously in
jured. They we're taken to the
hospital in an ambulance and the
operator was arrested and charged"
The condition Of the road, wheth-
er it was raining, whether it was
light, dusk or dark when the accl-
dent occurred, whether the drivers
vision was obstructed and variety
of other information also shows up
on the cards, 1t. Hartman said.
The department explained that
the statistical data is used for re-
ports to the Commissioners. the
FBI and the washington Criminal
Justice Association.
In police administration, 1t was
explained, properly prepared and
analvzed statistics play an impor-
tant part because they reveal the
frequency, kind and place OF oc-
currence of crime. On that basis,
they are used to rearrange the as
signment of policemen to cover
trouble spots, to train recruits IN
what they can expect and to assist
In crime detection.
All Mechanical.
1t. Hartman said the main diff
ferences between the new and old
trafic recording systems was the
fact that the new system is me-
chanical and the old system re-
quired tabulations by hand
The new traffic system based on
standards established by the Ma
tional Safety Council may result in
recommendations for placement or
removal of special types of traff1c
controls or for rerouting of traf1c
during. certain hours.
To Get the new system in opera
tion, the department announced,
bows from the National Training
School punched $4,000 cards carry
ing their stories of complaints, Of
fenses and arrests. AS of today, 1t
Hartman said. the record of arrests
on the punch cards is II days be-
L.,