Evening star., 1950-08-27
Arlington Survey
OF Police Needs
Urges Changes
County Boord Gets
Conclusions of
Three Month Study
By Robert c. RoIIinqs

0y NObSit ~ NSitut9S
The Arlington Police Depart
ment should improve its opera
tions, although it is sound" from
an organizational standpoint.
This is the overall conclusion
drawn by professional municipal
consulting finn after a three
month study.
To support it's findings, the firm
submitted 21-page report, plus
90 specific recommendations on
how operations can be improved.
The report was released by County
Manager A. T. Lundberg at the
County Board yesterday.
Conducted by Griffenhagen 81
Associates, the survey cost 81, 300.
In another investigation, a
three-man citizens committee is
inquiring into the departments
needs. Headed by E. j. Steger, the
committee has yet to report to the
board. 1t was named after the
weekly Arlington Sun newspaper
editorially called for an inquiry.
Disaster Plan Suggested.
With an eye on the world sit
uation and its possible effect on
the Washington area, the Griffen-
hagen report recommended the
Police Department prepare a dis
aster plan.
In times like the present it
Is deemed prudent to have plan
prepared which provides the or
ganization and facilities to cope
with foreseeable major catastro-
phes." the report asserted.
Such a plan should indicate
the directors and assistant direc-
tors and provide for alternate
key positions. Inventories of eS-
sential and useful facilities and
implements should be instituted
and maintained up to date.
THE plan could be co-ordi-
mated with similar plans of neigh
boring communities; should be
set up by ordinance, and provide
1O1 . PC1 CACSuG1fC oCOlC-
tary to keep the project alive"
AS to the police department it.
self, the report concluded:
Overall organization of the
department and the internal Or
CARNATIONS are sound. Co-ordi-
nation within and between units
of the department requires i'm
provement.
Conclusions Reached.
Training throughout the de-
partment is inadequate.
p ersonnel administration
stands in need of betterment.
Supervision within the depart
ment needs strengthening.
Public relations should be en-
phasized to comport with the
kind of community in which
the department has its being.
Finally, the force should primp
up smartly and show a bright
face and figure to the public" J"
Morale, shaken by out-of-line
actions of several members. is
termed "fair and on the upgrade"
by the report.
The stresses and strains of
growing pains (Arlington's popu-
lation has increased more than
100000 in the last 20 years., man
power shortages, inadequate office
space, inexperienced men, and
sheer bad luck have plagued the
department" the report asserted.
But the organization is i'm
proving and the pace of better
ment is improving"
The greatest number of the
recommendations, eight, were
made under the subject of train
ing
These including making arrange
ments with Washington, If pos
sible, to train Arlington recruits
and members Of the force, in the
District; utilizing Federal Bureau
Of Investigation facilities; provid-
Ing for a thorough course Of tar
get practice and training in fire.
arms handling, and arranging fol
training in voice control and ef-
fectiveness at the microphone ano
telephone.
Also recommended were COM
pletion of a project for push-but-
ton traffic control lights in con-
nection with school crossing pro-
lection; utilizing civilian school
crossing guards; installing radio
receivers on motorcycles, ano
putting into 24-hour service 6
fully equipped accident investi-
CATION car.
To increase manpower, the re-
port suggested conducting "a fail
experiment" with one-man patro
cars. This. it noted. "is consist.
emily avoided in Arlington"
The one-man cars are used ex.
tensively in Montgomery County
suburban areas during daylight
hours and to a limited measure
In outlying sections of the county