Evening star., 1956-03-25

iJaIluaTy 10, 1900, was KNOCKED
to the sidewalk by a man who
grabbed her bag and ran. She
was admitted to Garfield Hos
pital with fractured arm and
shoulder bruises.
| Police Chief Robert v. MUIR
ray has been asked to address
Ione women's group after another
as the purse-snatching alarm
has spread. Under their ques-
tioning. he has expressed his
concern at the rising number Of
street crimes but told the women
ihe needed more policemen on
the street to meet their demands
for more protection.
Tam constantly being asked
to provide more protection In
the areas where these women
live and work." he said yester-
day. There's not a week that
goes by that a citizens associa-
tion from some section of the
city doesn't write to ask that
more police be assigned to their
particular precinct. In many
letters. they cite the dangers
to women. Most of their re-
quests are fully justified. we
should have the men.
Adequate Force Urged
I'VE have proved time and
again that the best possible way
to reduce and prevent crime is
to have an adequate uniformed
forced on the street. When we
use the recruit training classes
to supplement the regular patrol
force on week ends, there has
been less crime In the areas
where they are assigned. They
have also been successful in ap-
pretending both yokers and
'housebreakers in the act. We've
got to have the men out there to
catch them. If we don't, they'll
|go on until we do"
He said that any increase in
the police department would 60
to the patrol forces. Although
the force is theoretically 2,278
men, it actually is about 40 short
|of that because vacancies must
be maintained to take care of ex-
|penses not figured in the ap-
Ipropriations..
Chief Murray said if the force
actually numbered $500 men, he
could virtually double the num-
ber of men walking beats on each
shift.
Groups Seek Action
Here's how the womens groups
have reacted to the fears of
their membership and Chief
Murray's explanations:
In December, the Business and
Professional Women's Club of
the District began bombarding
congressman on appropriations
and District committees with let
ters calling for a 2,500-man force
and urging that the costs OF the
increase be covered by an in.
crease in the Federal payment.
In February, the State Fedora
tion of Business and Professional
Women's Clubs with more than
1900 members in six clubs wrote
the chairmen of the House and
Senate District Committees and
appropriations committees han
ding the District budget:
I'VE believe very strongly that
more police protection is needed
here. Several of our members
only recently have been attacked
on our streets. one of whom was
very seriously injured just a few
days ago. Realizing the preca-
rious fiscal position of the Dis
trict of Columbia, we also wish To
go on record as favoring the
speedy passage of any additional
revenue measure which may be
necessary. :. Any favorable con-
sideration that you may be able
to give this request for additional
protection will be sincerely ap-
preciated."
Frequent Resolutions Passed
The local business and profess
sional group followed up their
original resolution last week in
a letter to Representative Davis,
Democrat of Georgia, author of
the 2,500-man police bill, saying:
1--WE take the position that it is
false economy to try to run the
department with four or five foot
patrolmen in precinct bristling
with every breed of criminal.
The District Federation of
Women's Clubs, with more than
Y 900 members in SO clubs, fol-
lowed up earlier resolutions for
an increased police force with
one on February q specifically
urging Congress to approve a
2, ,500-man force.
The Women's City Club passed
"a resolution in March, 1855, ap-I
pealing to the Commissioners
and to the chairmen of the Sen
ate and House District Commit
tees Ito Immediately take de-
cisive steps to protect the men,
homes and property of its citi-
zens so that normal safety will
be returned to the residents Of
the Nations Capital"
Davis Bill Supported
In September, 1855, the
Womens City Club passed
another resolution specifically
calling for a 2,500-man force.
In February. the club wrote Mr..
Davis supporting his bill and fol-
lowed it up by having Mrs. Har-I
vey Wiley testify at hearings on
the measure this month.
Last week, the Zonta Club of
Washington went on record in
dorsing expansion of the police
force for more adequate pro-
lection of it's residents"
Immediately after the $500
man force bill was approved by
the House when it comes up for