Evening star., 1951-11-16
Disabi|ityReport
On Barrett Not
|YetGiivenB Board
Chiefs Physician
Will Have to Urge
His Retirement First

HIS NStIIStUSIlt TUSt
The chairman of the Board Of
Police and Fire Surgeons said
fatty today that he has received
no recommendation for the dis
ability retirement of Police Chief
Robert ]. Barrett.
Replying to reports that Mai.
Barrett is due to go before the
board next Tuesday. DR.. John A.
Reed, board chairman. said Maj.
Barrett's personal physician would
have to recommend it first, and
DR.. Reed has not received such a
Recommendation.
DR.. Reed said Mai. Barrett is
still undergoing hospital tests and
there is mo possibility that the
Commissioners will receive re-
port today on his condition.
So far, the Commissioners have
received only a report that Maj.
Barrett is "a very sick man" but
the nature of his illness has not
been revealed.
Extension Granted Inspector.
On the basis of that report, Maj.
Barrett asked for and received an
eight-day extension of time to fill
out the financial questionnalre
issued by the Senate District
crime subcommittee.
An indefinite extension of time
to respond to the questionnaire
was granted yesterday to Inspector
Walter T. Storm, No. 2 man in the
department as executive officer,
whose illness prompted the Board
of Police and Fire Surgeons to rec
ommend his retirement this week.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue said the Commissioners had
received letter from heart spe-
cialist asking that Inspector
Storm be relieved of answering
the QUESTIONABLE and Arnold
Bauman. counsel of the crime sub
committee, agreed to postpone the
deadline indefinitely.
In the campaign for successor
to Maj. Barrett-should he be re-
tired for physical disability-Com-
missioner John Russell Young re-
ported a number of recommended
tions had been received at the
District Building.
Most of these recommendations
favored Inspector Robert v. Muir
ray. chief of detectives and an
assistant superintendent, and In
Ispectors Howard V. Covell and
lCharles j. Sullivan, district in
Ispectors.
Commissioner Young earlier re-
vealed that Chairman Mcmillan
of the House District Committee
had recommended Inspector Muir
ray. He later told neWsmen that
he had received word from Mr..
Mcmillan that he did not want
Maj. Barrett to think he is in
dorsing any one as long as Mai.
Barrett wants the position. but if
Maj. Barrett retires. Inspector
Murray is his choice.
Endorsed by Others.
/ Messages of Endorsement of In
ispector Murray, the Commissioner
announced, also have come from
Mrs. Agnes K. Mason, member of
the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board, who said Inspector Murray
impressed her favorably while at
tached to the ABC Board, and
from Attorney Myron Ehrlich, who
listed Inspector Murray as his first
choice and Inspector Sullivan as
his second choice.
Inspector Sullivan, who has been
indorsed by Majority Leader Nc
Cormack. also has been recon-
mended by Joseph Ward and Ray
mond A. DuFour, general agent
here for the Pacific Mutual Life
Insurance Co.
Inspector Covell was recon-
mended by Barnum Cotton, presi-
dent of the National Bank of
Washington.
Capt. William T. Murphy Of
the ninth precinct was recon-
Imended by j. T. Caffarelli.
Executive Post Also Open.
i Commissioner Donohue told
newsmen that it would be IAN un-
usual circumstance which would
lead me not to agree" with Gem
missioner Young's recommended
ton. He said that while he has
some one in mind. he would not
push his man unless he objects
to Commissioner Young's recon-
mendaJion.
With the retirement of Inspec-
tor Storm, the post of executive
officer is becoming vacant. In
Spector Covell has been widely
mentioned for that position be-
cause of his long service at ad-
ministrative headquarters. Also
recommended for the post Las
been 1t. Lewis B. Peters, Maj.
Barrett'S aide, but 1t. Peters ap-
pointment would be contingent on
his advancement to captain via
civil service.