Evening star., 1953-08-30
Serious Crimes
'Leve|ing Off,
Spencer Reports
Commissions Cites
Funds to Put More
Policemen on Streets

4
Funds to Put More
Policemen on Streets
Serious crime in Washington
has "leveled off considerably" in
the last two months, since the
city has had funds to put more
policemen on the streets, Com
missioner Samuel Spencer said
last night.
At the same time. Mr.. Spencer
disclosed figures showing there
were about TOO fewer serious
crimes during the first six
months of this year than in the
first half of 1852.
The Commissioner discussed
the crime situation in radio
interview during the Report to
the People" program over Sta
ton WWDC last night.
Serious Offences Decline.
which he had requested from
Mr.. Spencer said the six
offenses in the first half of 1858,
Police Chief Robert v. Murray.
month parison figures,
as against 12,016 in the same
showed there were 1881 serious
period last year.
There was a slight increase in
robberies this year, but sharp
drops in larceny and house
breakings. Figures he cited
included:
Homicide, 81 this year, Al last
year; rape, 72 this year, II last
year; robbery, 642 this year, 586
last year; aggravated assault,
2.172 this year, 2,182 last year;
housebreaking, 2,454 this year,
1925 last year; larceny, 4,69O
this year, 5,526 last year.
Sees Crime Wave Past.
Maj. Murray said figures are
not tabulated for July and
August. However, Mr.. Spencer
said the chief had reported that
crime has "leveled off consider
ably" With funds to put addi-
tional police on the street. it
appears "the worst of the crime
wave which hit us in the latter
part of 1852 is past" the Com
missioner said.
Mai. Murray told a reporter
the Crime wave" apparently
was a reference to a sharp up
swing in armed robbery and
purse snatchings which took
place last December.
Mr.. Spencer reminded the
radio audience that the serious
crime rate dropped this year,
even though the Police Depart
ment had more men to put on
the streets during the same pc
riod in 1852.
Maj. Murray said two factors
help explain this drop. One is
that a large amount of volunteer
police work has been done. The
other, he said. is that some
multiple offenders" have been
prosecuted for a series of crimes,
thereby taking some chronic Of
tenders out of circulation. He
credited The Stars campaign
for the prosecution of such
criminals.
Mr.. Spencer said Al per cent
| of the cases were solved during
the first half of this year. While
this is slightly below the 1852
rate. he said, it still is far above
rates throughout the country.
Hopes for Full Strength.
The commissioner said avail
ability of funds to permit some
police to work sixth day volun-
tarily will be helpful. But he
hoped also that recruiting soon
will bring the force near its
authorized strength of 2,290. He
said he understood there was "a
good turnout" for police exams
during the last two months.
Mr.. Spencer was asked if the
force should be expanded. per-
haps to $500 men as recon-
mended by the Washington
Criminal Justice Association.
with an effective, organized
force of 1920, I think we can
handle the situation pretty we'll, )"
he replied.
Discounts Bottle Club Danger.
On other subjects, Mr.. Spencer
said:
l. That he sees no serious
danger of bottle clubs moving
into Residential areas" in view
of the current clamp on down.
town operations. He said the
clubs constitute a serious dis
advantage" to the city, but he
feels the police can handle.
2. That he hopes to see "a
balanced plan of both clearance
and rehabilitation" of substand-
ard housing result from the Dis
trict Buildings current attack on
slumS.
3. That he does not intend to
hire a top aide to represent him
in the slum- -riddance program.
Both his colleagues, Commits
sioner Renah Camalier and En-
gineer Commissioner Louis w.
Prentiss will assign new aides to
work with specific portions of
the slum program which fall
within their jurisdictions.
Va