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

Traffic under an agreement
where the latter department.
hires 10 civilians for its Central
Drivers File.
OF the other "a. Is are to be
released in top-to-bottom re-
organization of the Communica-
tons and Records Bureau. The
bureau will be manned entirely
by civilians except for "a police
working as dispatchers on the
three shifts. supervisory person.
mel, and a station clerk. This
project, aimed at more efficient
service, means hiring II more
civilians, for which funds are
not yet available.
A study of the Hack Office
where IA police privates are now
on duty, has resulted in recon-
mendations to replace six OF
them with civilians, to get them
on the street.
OF the four privates now doing
clerical work in the Accident In
vestigation Unit, it is proposed
that three be replaced by civil
lanS, No funds are available
yet to hire civilians for either
the Hack Office or AIU. Police
have the alternative of dipping
into the lump sum out of which
both policemen and civilians are
paid-thereby having to choose
between hiring policemen or CT
vilians-or juStifying a budget
request for more civilians.
Police investigated the posi-
bility of one of the electric ap-
pliance companies taking over
the radio chore which now ties
up 20 men. The investigation,
according to police, showed such
a system would be costly and
would not insure police prior
lty over other clients. AS for
hiring civilian mechanics indi-
vidually to replace the police
men--as has also been pro-
posed-police argue that skilled
come high and that
a night differential has to be
paid them but not to police
men. Some District officials dis
agree with them on relative
costs and would like further
study of both these positions and
the six police on auto repair
Police have taken a look at
the uniformed men on inside
Jobs in the precincts. These in
clude SIS station clerks, As as
signed to the patrol signal sys-
TEN and "a assigned to the pre-
cincts as clerks.
Although the station clerks
were included in Mr.. McLaugh-
Inns list of 1927 men who might
be replaced by civilians, the
Commissioner after looking at
the breakdown said station
clerks obviously had TO be uni
formed men.
Study Baltimore System
AS for the As assigned to the
patrol signal system, a study
was made of Baltimore CEN
traliZed communications system,
but it was found that wouldn't
work here for mechanical rea-
sons. Police further contend
that these as could not be re-
placed by civilians because in
addition to their communications
duties. they have to deal with
the public. expedite the handling
Of complaints. sit in for station
clerks and care for prisoners.
The 81 precinct clerks do all
the precinct paper work. Police
experimental with putting wom-
en- clerk-typists in the precincts,
but the atmosphere was not con-
ducive to keeping them there
Only one remains.
Some Pros and Cons
Besides the question of getting
more men on the street directly
to handle crime. there are these
and disadvantages
cited in replacing police with
civilians:
The advantage - Because of
the difference in retirement
costs particularly. civilians are
much less costly for the city on
the average than policemen.
Thus. statisticians figure, for
every five civilians hired to re-
place policemen enough money
would be saved ultimately to
afford one more policeman.
The disadvantage-Like most
military and business oreaniza-
tons, police keep some desk jobs
open for men injured in the line
of duty. afflicted by ailments
that prevent strenuous assign
ments OF too old to walk beat.
Police estimate between IS and
100 men fall into these cate
eories. If their Jobs were filled
by civilians, they would have to