Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-12
Five Policemen
Seek Federal
Narcotics Jobs
Applicants Blame
Slow Promotions
On District Force
BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG

Five veteran members of the
police narcotics squad have ap-
piled for jobs with the Federal
Bureau of Narcotics, it was
learned today.
Deputy Chief Clarence H.
Lutz, head of the morals divi-
sion, confirmed the fact that
four had applied but said he had
not yet talked to the fifth man.
The threatened mass exodus,
which includes two recent
Policemen-of -the-Month award
winners, was blamed by the
men involved on a number of
factors. Among the factors was
Slowness of promotions and low
efficiency ratings, despite an i'm
presSive record of successful
prosecutions in important cases.
Deputy Chief Lutz said he had
not asked the men why they
were seeking another job. but he
assumed 1t was because Of money
which he called "the usual
reason"
Five Are Named
The men who have applied for
Jobs in the Federal Bureau of
Narcotics include Probationary
Detectives Guy w. Holcomb,
John r. Janetta and Sherwood
Herring and Pvts. Thomas Di-
done and Dante Longo.
A sixth narcotics squad vet
eran, Detective Sergt. Joseph
Gabrys. quit the squad a few
weeks ago to join the Federal
Bureau of Narcotics.
Detectives Holcomb and Pa
Meta were cited as Policemen of
the Month for July for their part
in breaking "the case of the
limping man." the recently in
dicted Melvin Ward.
Detective Herring who asked
permission from his command
ing officer before he made in
quiries at the Federal Bureau of
Narcotics. was transferred to the
prostitution and perversion unit
OF the Morale Division. He ap-I
piled that day for the Federal
job.
Deputy Chief Lutz said he was
going to shift some detectives
from the gambling squad to-
break them in on narcotics land
show these men the narcotics
squad can go on without them.
-Four men are due to be shifted
into the squad Monday.
Asked if he had made any
effort to hold the men, he said
he couldn't promise any promo
tons because no vacancies exist.
He said he had tried repeatedly
without success to get more rat
ings in his division and he added
that he hoped more ratings
would be authorized by Congress
next year.
He said all five had had ex-
perience and are all good men
He said he had not heard any
complaints about their efficiency
ratings nor was he aware that
the men in the narcotics squad
had been given lower ratings
than their colleagues in the
gambling squad.
At Blick's Request
Detective Herring, he said, was
transferred at Inspector Roy
Blick's request because Inspector
Blick wanted a level-headed.
capable man for his squad. He
said he had told Detective
Herring he could oppose the
transfer but his action would t.
taken into consideration when
promotions to precinct detective
were considered.
Deputy Chief Howard ".
Covell. who sacting chief in
the absence of CHEW Robert v.
Murray, said Chief Murray had
received information that some
OF the men had applied to the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics and
had asked Deputy Chief Lutz to
report back to him. Deputy
Chief Covell said undoubtedly
this information would be avail
able to the chief and he will act
on it when he returns next
Wednesday.
Detective Panetta has been on,
the force since 1945 and Detec-
tive Holcomb since 1949. The
others have been policemen for
four years.