Evening star., 1951-11-25
Donohue AsksSuppo
For New Chief, Raps
Low Police Salaries

Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue last night broadcast an ap-
peal to all members of the Police
Department and citizens of Wash
ington to give their full support
to incoming Police Chief Robert
V. Murray.
The city head spoke a word of
praise for the men on the beat as
well as for the new superintend-
ent.
OF Mai. Murray, he said passing
over him and selecting some other
candidate for the job would have
been to say to every member of
the force that there was no in
centlve to do good police work.
Hits Low Police Pay.
He expressed confidence that
when the time comes to fill the
down-the-line vacancies caused
by Maj. Murray's elevation, the
new police head will do a good
job of choosing those to promote.
AS for the police force as a
whole. Commissioner Donohue
said the departments current 200
vacancies are due largely to poor
police pay and to the public's
failure to show policemen how
valuable their service is to the
community.
He said police pay should be
raised to fill the vacancies, build
morale of the force and attract
the highest quality of new men.
The Commissioners, he said, would
be willing to 60 to Congress for
more money for policemen if they
had citizen support in a move for
higher pay.
Selection Method Explained.
Commissioner Donohue was
asked several questions during mis-
weekly broadcast over Station
WWDC about the circumstances
leading up to the selection of the
chief of detectives to be police
chief. Before the unanimous choice
was announced, six inspectors
were called to the District Build
ing for personal interviews.
He explained that procedure
was adopted because Engineer
Commissioner Bernard L. Robin
son did not know the men. The
Commissioners. he said, followed
technique familiar to Gen. Rob-
inson as an Army man.
He cited the Army procedure of
conducting brief promotion
interviews to judge the bearing
and conduct of the candidates.
He said he could not remem-
Der the exact questions asked the
inspectors, but said the purpose
was to find out if any of the men
in examining their consciences in
the light of the financial ques-
tionnaires issued by the Senate
District Crime Subcommittee had
anything they wanted to say to
the Commissioners or, if oppoint-
ed. whether they might expect to
resign in a short time. All of the
men, he said, were able to answer
satisfactorily.
Commissioner Donohue was also
asked if he had heard anything
about rumors that one of the older
men were dissatisfied about the
chiefs selection and planned to
retire soon. He said he thought
"disappointed' was better de-
scription than dissatisfied
Murray Completing Questionna ire.
Maj. Murray, meanwhile, was
spending the week end complet-
ing his financial QUESTIONABLE
He said he expected to hand ii
to Arnold Bauman, the crime SUBJ
committee counsel, tomorrow al
though the deadline for its re-
turn is not until Thursday.
He explained that he thought
it proper to give the subcommit-
tee staff chance to go over his
answers before he is sworn in az
chief. He takes the oath Satur-
day.
I'VE feel" he added, "that these
continuous Investigations are bao
for the morale of the men. Wed
like to get this settled so we can
get back to the job we're being
paid to do"
The acting chief plans to re-
sumo his tour of the precincts
tomorrow to talk with the mer
personally and reassure them that
their work is appreciated.