Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-20
Crime Council Hits
Investigative Arrest
Backs Horsky
In Long Report
To Tobriner
BY CHARLES d. PIERCE
Star staff Writer

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Star staff Writer
The Commissioners Council
on Crime today gave its sup
port to the Horsky report,
which advocated the immediate
discontinuance of arrests for
investigation.
The council submitted It's
recommendations and a lengthy
report on its studies to Walter
N. Tobriner, president of the
Board of Commissioners.
Many important suggestions
were contained in the recent
Horsky report" the council
said. Our council feels that
these suggestions, particularly
the one relating to the discon-
tinuance of arrests for investi-
cation, should be put into eff
feet"
Oliver Gasch, council chair
man, said that he believes the
arrests for investigation should
be stopped without delay"
Declines to Comment
Mr.. Tobriner declined to
comment at this time on this
particular recommendation of
the council.
However, Mr.. Tobriner said
that the Commissioners con-
slider the councils report "of
high Importance in reaching a
solution of our crime problem
within the District of Column
bia. 1t is both painstaking,
balanced ara positive in its
approach"
Conclusions reached by the
council in its report include
the following:
Local crime figures COM
pare with national crime fig
ures. The rate of increase Of
serious crimes in the last 10
or IL years nationally is far
greater than that noted locally.
This should give us no cause
for complacency. Local con-
ditions can and should be i'm
proved"
Makes Recommendations
Regarding the Police Depart
ment, the council made the
following recommendations:
/. Assign patrolmen to the
same beat long enough for
them to know and be known
by the local citizens. Encourage
them to live in the District
to identify them more closely
} with it. speed direct action il
Difficulty hours and emergencies
and generally deter criminaI
acts by their presence.
2. Expand the number and
effectiveness of those on the
force by various means: En-
courage high-caliber enlist
ments by raising pay and i'm
proving physical facilities at
precinct stations; reactivate a
volunteer. auxiliary or reserve
police corps and subsidize uni
forms, insurance and line-of-
duty injury compensation; ac-
quire more police dogs and
use them more widely; relieve
police of duty at United States
Government ceremonial func-
tons by substituting United
States military escorts where
possible.
3. Link all licensed public
carriers having a number of
vehicles on the streets with the
police dispatcher by radio.
Taxicab drivers. in particular,
could prove a useful auxiliary
for the prompt reporting of ir-
regularities IL given proper in
centive."
Closer Cooperation
The council also urged that
closer cooperation be provided
between police and citizens.
partly by forming a council in
each police precinct composed
OF the precinct captain and sew
eral responsible citizens TO en-
courage greater citizen particle
patton N crime detection and
reporting.
The council recommended
special efforts by school, recre-
alton and welfare officials to
recognize the special needs Of
those most likely ito fall into
the paths Of delinquency and
ultimately crime"
Better job opportunities
through the enactment of fair
employment practices legisla-
ton are most desirable, the
council said. The council also
said that better and more ex-
pensive programs for diverting
the interests OF youth into nor
NAL and productive channels
must be devised by our parents,
our schools. our churches, our
recreation and welfare authori-
ties"
Other recommendations by
the council called for more ade-
quate lighting OF streets, park
areas and school buildings.
establishment OF a citizens
committee 10 help discharged
prisoners and PAROLES with
personal problems. and creation
" a Youth Conservation Corps
TO provide young people with
Jobs and training.