Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-15

men
More Protection Urged
1t was the lack of police on the
street that brought a concerted
demand from women's organiza-
tions, as reported in The Star
of March 25, for more protection
from purse-snatcherS and other
street criminals, The Star last
week examined emergency meas
ures now being taken by police
to get more men on the street on
the days and hours of greatest
crime.
The latest Star survey was to
determine what efforts the po-
lice are making toward a more
permanent solution of the prob
lem of providing more protec-
ton on the streets
Coupled with the campaign
for a force of not fewer than
$500 men. the department in CO.
operation with the District man.
agement Office is examining some
of its activities to determine
where policemen can be replaced
by civilians.
When Commissioner Robert E.
Mclaughlin testified last week
at Senate District subcommittee
hearings or the HouSe-pasSed
bill for a 2,500-man force. he
said he had been advised that
327 jobs now held by policemen
should be studied to determine
if the work could be done by
civilians.
Chief Murray Immediately in
terjected that he had been ask
ing the District personnel Office
for years to examine police OPP
erations with view to replacing
police with civilians 10 release
more for street duty.
Commissioner Mclaughlin said
it might be possible to get 200
of the 1927 jobs done by civilians.
Other District officials who have
done some looking at police &C
tivitieS thought the figure would
be closer to 100 than 200.
Many Problems
The Star investigation of what
study has been given to replac-
ing policemen with civilians
showed that the whole question
involves budgetary shifts, the in
tereSts OF other District agencies,
the problem of police available
only for limited service and diff
fering opinions on what Jobs
should be done by policemen.
In three places. The Star in
veStigation turned up policemen
who might be restored to other
duties if another District agency
hired civilians to do their work
Three, of these are privates
working for the Corporation
Counsel at Municipal Court. Po-
lice have been assigned there
since 1917. They assist IN pre-
pairing papers to be presented in
the courts criminal division.
Chief Murray said he would like
TO have them back. Assistant
Corporation Counsel Chester
Gray said if they were removed
assistant corporation counsels
would have TO do their work,
because that Office has no money
to hire the highly trained clerks
needed to replace them.
Thirty-three policemen are
now assigned as license officers
They do character Investigations
on those seeking licenses. check
on occupancy permits and do
other license processing and sup
ervision, This system goes back
to- 1914 About two years ago
when reorganization of licenses
and inspections was underway.
Chief Murray recommended that
the work Of the license officers
should be turned over to the
new Department of Licenses and
Inspections and the work be
performed by civilians.
Funds Shifted
Funds to pay for 30 more
policemen were added to the
budget to compensate for the
men lost to other duties by the
licensing work but the actual
shift of duties to civilians in
the Department Of Licenses and
Inspections is still under study
in the management Office.
Within the Police Department,
The Star checked on what efforts
are being made to replace those
assigned to clerical and mechani-
cal duties
1t developed that after a series
of exhaustive studies over two
year period. police and their
civilian advisers have found "a
policemen who could be released
for street duties if civilians are