Evening star., 1953-02-18
BY J. Theodore Grown

The Commissioners approval
of a bill to raise the pay of Dis
trict policemen advances a prof.
ect long advocated by police Off
cials and supporters of better
law enforcement here.
There are two pay plans for
police. The first was approved
by the Commissioners yesterday
and forwarded to the Federal
Budget Bureau. The second, ad-
vocated by the District Police
Association; still is being studied.
Both argue strongly that more
money is needed to solve the de-
partment's complex manpower
problem.
Among the arguments ad-
vanced are:
1. That more policemen should
be added to the force SO the city
can be more effectively patrolled.
2. That salaries should be
raised so the department can
attract and keep good men.
3. That present salaries COM
pare unfavorably with those of
policemen in other cities.
Answers Expected.
Arguments that probably will
be advanced in answer by econ
omy minded opponents are:
/. That more policemen may
be needed, but not the 206 extra
for which money will be asked.
2. That the department al
ready is near the strength for
which money is available.
8. That present salaries do not
compare too unfavorably with
comparable cities.
On Monday, 13 rockies were
added to the force. This brought
to 2.064 the total in the depart
ment-just 20 short of the num-
ber for which money is available.
This still is 226 short of the
force authorized by Congress.
But Congress didn't appropriate
enough money to pay for the
extra 206 it authorized.
A fact often overlooked in dis
cussing- the departments man
power problem is that depart
ment officials were not planning
to add the 206 men Immediately
They felt it could not be done
and had hoped to use the salary
money provided for the 206 as
overtime payments to men al
ready on the force.
Adds More Manpower.
Because of the present sys-
tenn of overtime pay. this
actually would have added more
manpower to the force than If
the 206 were hired. Police who
work an overtime day get
1/360th of their annual wage.
This is much less than their
actual pay when the pay is
figured on the basis of time
worked. A closer figure would be
1/260th of their annual wage
something both police officials
and the Police Association hope
will be written into the law.
Inspector Archie Winfree,
head of the police training
school, said there are sufficient
men on civil service lists to
furnish the 90 more men for
which money is available, bring
ing the total stregnth to 2,084.
This sounds like enough men
to patrol the streets effectively
and it would be more than am
pie If all were available for that
purpose. But police officials point
out that because Of days off.
those on annual or military
leave, those sick or injured. those
AWOL or suspended, those on
special assignment and used in
an administrative capacity, the
number available for leg work
on crime prevention and detec-
tion is only 976 each day.
Washington, as the Capital
City. is unique in special assign
mentS for police. Many govern
mental functions require special
policing-thingS like parades
welcoming visiting dignitaries.
Large parties at embassies and
other places create traffic prob
lens and q drain on police man
power.
At present. the only pay for
this special policing comes from