Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-15
Alexandra 5
and Fire
Forces Praised
Long-Awoited Survey
Report Also Urges
Some Improvements

~ d4CGu III O1lc I1TSG OF q series OF
long-awaited survey reports, but
numerous suggestions for Inn
provement. many Of which would
require large expenditures, are
offered.
The reports. by the Govern
ment Consulting Service Of the
Institute Of Local and State Gov
eminent. University Of Pennsyl-
vania, found that all three Of the
departments suffer because Of
inadequate space.
More personnel for the Fire
and Welfare Departments and
increased in-service training ac-
tivities for firernen and police-
men are strongly recommended
in the reports turned over to the
City Council yesterday.
Thirty three specific recom-
mendations are made for I'M
provement Of Police Department
efficiency, 10 for the Fire De-
partment and Is for the Welfare
Department in the first three Of
eight freports to be completed.
The remaining surveys are to be
completed in coming weeks.
Cited rs Promising Force.
Alexandra is fortunate In
having one Of the more prom
Using police departments in the
country" the report. based on .
survey made In March and April
OF this year, declared. It COM
mended the professional police
men now trusted with the adj
ministration Of the department.
But some Of the major prob
lem areas" In police administers
ton were reported as:
l. The existence Of manpower
consuming foot beats in too small
business areas in response to
shopkeeper pressure.
2. "A slackness in discipline
as evidenced by police accept
ance of Christmas presents from
citizens who have frequent deal
ings with the police"
8. insufficient recruit and in
service training
Notwithstanding these short
comings, "the effectiveness OF
the Alexandria Police Depart
ment today is probably higher
than that Of the average Amer
lean municipal force. ;. the re-
port said.
/ The survey compared Alexan-
'dria's caseS-cleared -by-arreSt
record with the average for cities
Of the same population and
found "a generally better-than-
average number Of eases cleared
by arrest in Alexandra. But
the report said this might moi
have been the case If better re-
cording methods had been II
effect and suggested q better
method be put into operation
soon. -
Alarm Box System Needed.
The report on the Fire De-
partment commended the city
for its good equipment, water
supply and tightening of build.
ing requirements. Two major
factors affecting fire defense In
which the city was termed weak
were the absence of a IRE alarm
box system and undermining
Of equipment.
An immediate goal of 20 paiC
fire captains. instead Of the pres.
ent 10, and So paid f1remen in.
stead Of the present force of 40
was recommended in the report
The study suggested that ar
effort be made to correct. Il
possible. the conditions causing
q low proportion Of volunteers tx
attend drills and fires"
It was also suggested that Thu
practice Of d volunteer captain
being in command at q fire scene
should be changed to provide {
clear line Of command. with thu
paid men taking precedence.
New Station Houses Urged.
A construction program en-.
visioning new station house ir
the area recently annexed from
Fairfax County in the vicinity
of Seminary road and NORTH
Pickett street; q new station al
King street and Janneys Ian,
and a new station in the bust.
ness area consolidating tn,
present fire stations, No. !. ant
No. q, was recommended.
The report warned that unless
the interest of the volunteel
firemen in fire fighting can b
maintained IAN even more costly
department of paid firemen" vii
be needed.
A sound pension program !.
needed for paid firemen. the re-
port said, to end the preseni
practice Of permitting firemen tt
hold outside employment.
The public welfare report urgee
creation Of q Public Welfare AID,
visory Board. It was suggested
that an additional case workel
in the child welfare division ant
an additional clerk are needed.
Stan Is Praised.
The report had these words o
praise:
THE almost complete absencI
Of cases involving misuse d
funds attests to the thorough
ness and competence Of the stan
There was no indication Of IA
voritism or special treatment 70,
political or personal reasons"
Minor changes in operation
were suggested enabling NOR
authority to be vested In the SUI,
perintendent Of welfare and al
effort to provide more space ant
better equipment was urged.
It was suggested that an eff