Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-10
Police May Hit
Full Strength
In II Months
1t Would Mark
First Time in Decade
Force Reached Peak
By J. Theodore Grown

By J. Theodore Grown
The Metropolitan Police De-
partment may be up to its au-
thorized strength for the first
time in 10 years within the next
II months.
Statistics, including some
showing a shrinking crime rate,
made a picture heartening to
Police Chief Mai. Robert v.
Murray, although authorized
strength"-2.270 mems still
$50 under the pattern sought by
the chief.
The department is now 1853
men under the total permitted
under the appropriations bill.
The figure includes 33 vacancies
due to military leave which will
not be filled on a temporary
basis.
Force Undermined.
Since World War II began,
WaShington'S police force has
been undermined. At times the
situation was so critical that de-
partment representatives were
sent into areas of unemployment
in other States seeking person.
mel.
In recent years, applications
have been less than one a day.
despite the "proselyting" expe-
ditions. In a far-fetched ex-
ample of recruiting. Inspector
Archie Winfree recently visited
Indian chiefs in Washington for
a Capitol Hill parley and advised
them of openings in the depart
ment in event some of the more
youthful members of the tribes
might want to apply. He was
dead earnest.
Current rate of application
has risen to 10 or better a day,
the inspector said. Unemploy-
ment is the greatest motivation.
he said.
Takes About 4 Months.
With Civil Service examina-
ton. character investigation,
physical exam and training
school ahead of an applicant, in
that order, about the shortest
possible time a man can. get on
the force is four months.
More policemen and their
better utilization are the two
big factors credited in the crime
reduction and solving since last
October.
During the period the force
actually had few if any more
men. But more were put on
the street for a sixth day at
overtime pay. This enabled
planting" of uniformed men in
likely target areas of holdupmen.
Second phase, Chief Murray
believes, is the creation of five
detective inspection districts
tantamount to having a detec-
tive bureau at the precinct level.
Records show that from last
October through January 49.5
per cent of the secrious crimes
reported have been solved.
1851 Serious Crimes.
In February there were 1851
cases of serious crime reported
and ass per cent were marked
cleared. In February of last
year there were 1851 cases and
only 36.7 per cent were cleared.
Here is the breakdown by dis
tricts for the period october /,
1858, through last January for
the 6,901 serious crimes reported,
of which 1881 were cleared:
District 1-2,055 cases, 954 or
46.4 per cent cleared. District 2
-925 cases reported, 293 or 31.7
per cent cleared. District g.
1887 reported, 1872 or 45.3 per
cent cleared. District 4-1,270
reported, $50 or 48.5 per cent
cleared. District 5-1,564 re-
ported, 649 or Ais per cent
cleared.
In the same period, the De-
tective Bureau cleared 427 cases,
with a percentage of So. The
Traffic Division cleared Is cases,
with 2 percentage.
During the period, there were
Is murders reported, with II
cleared; one manslaughter, one
cleared; As rapes. AZ cleared;
400 robberies, 245 cleared: 81 at
tempt robberies, II cleared;
1880 aggravated assaults, 1,13O
cleared: 1909 housebreakings,
$50 cleared; 40 attempt house.
breakings, 80 cleared; BOT grand
larcenies. 100 cleared; 1888
petit larcenies, 1,055 cleared, and
545 cases of unauthorized use of
an auto. 157 cleared.
The figures indicate that lar
ceny and automobile cases
dragged down the cleara nee per-
centage on the overall picture of
serious crime. .......
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