Evening star., 1951-11-15
Congressman
Recommend !
For Barrett Job
Retirement Rumored
As Campaign Opens
For Police Chief Post
By Miriom Ottenbero

Mllidu Oh Cne mouse DlSCrlcC Com
mittee have both recommended
successors to Police Chief Robert
j. Barrett, whose disqualification
has given rise to retirement
rumors.
Representative McMillan's can
didate, according to Commissioner
Young. is Inspector Robert v.
Murray, 46-year-old chief of de-
tectives whose 81 years on the
force have been studded with
more than 100 commentators,
mostly for work on major Grim
inal cases.
Repre- entative Mccormack,
Commissioner Young said, recon-
mended Inspector Charles ]. Sui
livan. 48, night inspector who,
like the majority leader, comes
from Massachusetts,. A veteran
of 20 years on the force, Inspec-
tor Sullivan has six commenda-
tions. four of them for courtesy
Would Pick One From Force.
Commissioner Young, while
pointing out that no vacancy ex-
lists yet. told newsmen that I'VE
will try to get the man with the
best police experience and admin
lstrative ability"
He said there are '1ot of good
men" in the department and he
would not consider going outside
the force to select a new chief.
Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson said he would await
Commissioner Young's recommen-
dation and Commissioner F.
Joseph Donohue acknowledged
that he has a candidate.
Maj. Barrett himself has never
confirmed any retirement rumors.
In fact. as recently as month
ago. he fatty denied them.
Tests for Condition.
There have been indications,
however, that one reason for the
physical tests now being made on
Maj. Barrett at Emergency Hos
pital is to determine if his condi-
ton will enable him to continue
as chief. His physician, DR.. G..
Louis Weller, jr., said the tests are
still incomplete. Outside of de-
scribing Maj. Barrett as very
sick man." the chiefs physicians
have consistently refused to dis
cuss the nature of his illness.
Commissioner Donohue said he
believed the Commissioners should
bear in mind in choosing a chief
that an investigation of the police
is now going on. He said he had
in mind man he believed best
qualified to be administrative head
OF the Police Department under
existing circumstances.
Six Are Mentioned.
Despite speculation that the re-
tirement of Maj. Barrett and the
appointment of a successor would
be announced almost simultane-
ously. Commissioner Donohue said
as far as he is concerned "it would
not be any five-minute appoint
ment."
The police officers most fire.
ouently mentioned as possible
successors to Maj. Barrett follow:
l. Inspector Murray. An as
slstant superintendent as we'll as
detective chief, he was awarded
the Gold Medal for Valor in 1898
for the capture of a trio of
bandits in liquor store hold-up
He holds Communications for his
part in the solution of most of
the major murders and robberies
in the past decade, including the
arrest of the "Pimple Face" gang
and the solutions of the Dorothy
Berrum rape-murder, the murder
of little Carol Bardwell, and the
murders of Nancy Boyer. Gather
Inc Reardon at the Washington
Cathedral and Frank C. Kelly
near Central High School. He
started out walking a beat in the
10th precinct. Most of his late
career has been spent in detective
work but he has never been as
signed to any vice or gambling
enforcement. He is a native of
Havre de Grace, Md.
Served in Six Precincts.
2. Inspector Sullivan. In addi-
ton to four commentators for
courtesy, he has been commended
for his work during the visit of
the King and Queen of England
and on the Capital Transit strike.
He served in the traffic division,
administrative headquarters, the
detective bureau and six precincts
before being assigned at the Cap
itol as a sergeant in 1910. He
served in the armed forces from
1912 until 1916. He was promoted
to lieutenant in August, 1946, and
to captain in 1948 and COM
manded the 18th precinct. He was
transferred to the second precinct
in January, 1850, to the third
pxecinct in March, 1850, and to
headquarters as acting Inspector
and chief clerk in September, 1850.
He was named an inspector in
April, 1851.
3. Inspector Howard v. Covell,
At, a district inspector and the
most recently appointed of the
inspectors. A machinist before
joining the force In 1881, Inspec-
tor Covell moved through the
ranks from private to captain
while serving in administrative
headquarters. Appointed captain
IN 1948. he was transferred to
the first precinct where he won
concentrations for his work on
the Charles Hines murder case
and the Lansburgh Bros. murder
case. In all, he has 20 COM
mendationS. He has served as
assistant executive and personnel
officer and now repeatedly is also
being considered for the expected
vacancy as executive officer.
Now Acting Chief.
1. Inspector Robert S. Bryant
49. an assistant superintendent