Evening star., 1954-11-21
Police Chief Murray,
After ; Years, Seeks
More Improvements

More Improvements
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
begins his fourth year in office
tomorrow, still champing at the
bit.
Despite the many improve
ments in the Metropolitan Police
Department during his three
year tenure, the chief still sees
room for more.
His biggest unrealized goal is
to increase the size Of the force
from its present authorized 2,278
to an even $500. He has found
that with more men he can do
a better job.
But he faces this paradox:
The record of the department
has been so good that some are
likely to feel he doesn't need any
more men, that he's doing good
enough job as it is. But many
observers are inclined to the view
that the chiefs record is good
by comparison with past regimes.
and that with more men it could
be even better.
Plenty of Applicants.
In the matter of personnel, the
department is 50 men short of its
authorized strength. But that
compares with, total of 288
short when Chief Murray went
into Office, and the chief says
there are sufficient applicants to
bring the department to full.
strength. as soon as the appli-
cants can be processed and
trained.
Two characteristics have
marked Chief Murray's tenure.
One Is arm discipline and the
other, intense and broad train
ing of policemen in the jobs they
are expected to do.
The disciplinary action, de-
signed to nip scandals in the
bud, has struck high and
low positions-inspectors down
through the ranks to privates. A
total of 162 policemen have been
hailed before trial boards. There
were 139 guilty findings, 10 were
found not guilty, and four cases
are pending. OF those found
guilty, the violations of "a were
sufficiently serious to bring dis
missal.
Gifts Ruled Out.
To help his men keep out of
trouble, the chief has placed
a ban on their accepting gifts
from those with whom they deal
officially.
One of Chief Murray's actions
was to increase the time for
training rockies from to 10
weeks. He also has sent various
men to the Federal Bureau of
Investigations National Police
Academy and to Northwestern
University'S Traffic School. One
went to the University of South
ern California for a course in
juvenile problems, and others
have taken courses in human
relations. He recently set up an
in-service training program for
policemen.
He also has tried to make more
efficient use of men he has. He
has delegated full responsibility
to the men in charge of various
departments. The advantages
have been apparent both in ad-
miniStration and morale.
Formed New Districts.
The chief split the city into
five inspection districts and sta
toned crime squads - plain
clothes detectives-in each of
the districts. the theory being
that the men should be closer to
the scene Of action. He inaugu-
rated system of civilian guards
for school crossings, freeing more
policemen for street duty.
Three months ago, Chief Muir
ray set up a large division under
Capt. John e. Winters, to han
die juvenile problems and bring
the juvenile squad, women's bu-
reau, bicycle squad and Police
Boys Clubs under one head.
Chief Murray took control Of
the department at a time when
it was beset by low morale and
was the target of criticism from
congressional probers and grand
jurieS.
As one veteran police officer
put it, "It's been q rough and
rugged three years"
Have the chiefs changes paid
of?
Last year, while major crime
nationally was going up. it went
down here. So far in 1854, it
has gone down even below last
years.
And so far this year, police
have solved 65.6 per cent OF the
major crimes committed-a rec
ord Of which other police depart
ments are envious.