Much ordinary police duty has, however, been performed during the year by the sanitary detail, which appears on the lieutenants, morning reports: Number of nuisances reported at central office... Number of nuisances abated..... Number of nuisances unabated. Number of persons buried.... Number of dead horses and cows removed.... The board would suggest that a more rigid and comprehensive code of sanitary laws be enacted for this District. Here we have the capitol of our nation visited by persons not only from all portions of our country, but by representatives from all the civilized nations of the earth. Here also reside the diplomatic representatives of foreign countries, as well as the chief executive, legislative, and judicial officers of our own government. These circumstances would seem to demand of the government efficient sanitary lawe, and a well appointed and adequate police force to protect all the interests here assembled. 5,359 5,351 DETECTIVE DEPARTMENT. While the primary object of a police force is and should be to prevent crime, it has been found impracticable, in any city, to arrange a police system which is adequate, under the best and most efficient organization, to render crime so difficult of perpetration that there will not be classes who prey upon the property of others as a profession. For these reasons it has been found necessary to set apart a class of police officers known as detectives, whose special duty it is to ferret out the crimes and their perpetrators. Number of robberies reported.. Number of arrests made. 8 452 $1,693 75 34 12 447 This board is authorized by law to appoint six detectives, but during the greater portion of the past year they have had but four in their employ. The amount of work performed by the four officers is as follows, viz: Amount of property lost or stolen. Amount of property recovered..... Amount of property turned over to property clerk Amount of property turned over to owners. Amount of property taken from prisoners and returned to the same. 791 610 $145, 737 80 38, 662 45 17, 015 4S 21, 646 97 3,077 15 Besides the above, a large amount of labor has been performed by these officers of which no record could be made, such as watching suspected persons, obtaining valuable information, &c. MAGISTRATES' COURTS. This board cannot urge too strongly the necessity of a thorough and fundamental reorganization of petty courts of the District. The present system is open to the most flagrant abuses. In too many instances persons devoid of character, intelligence, or responsibility obtain commissions as justices of the peace, open offices, and commence the transaction of business in a manner which is a simple mockery of justice and disgraceful to the community. There are, however, some honorable exceptions, where commissions are held by high-minded, intelligent, and honorable men. But the system in vogue is open to the abuses named. On the score of economy also this reform is demanded. A properly organized police court could dispose of all cases of a minor character which are sent up to the supreme court of the District, where their prosecution entails upon the United States a heavy bill of costs and fees, ne rly all of which could be avoided by a police court. Besides, under the present system, trials of petty offences are delayed sometimes for months, and until the witnesses in the case have left the city, or, having ceased to feel any interest in the case, it is abandoned. Certainly a more speedy trial should follow the commission of crimes of a minor grade. THE FIRE ALARM AND POLICE TELEGRAPH. This valuable auxiliary to the police operations of the District has been in successful operation during the year past. Each succeeding year demonstrates more satisfactorily its utility and efficiency as a police agent. There have been sent over the wires through the central office during the year 11,749 police telegrams; and besides these probably fully as many more have been transmitted between stations of which no record was made at the central office. During the last session of Congress an appropriation of $15,000 was made to pay the constructor of this telegraph the portion the board had agreed to pay. The city of Washington has already paid an equal sum. The board is happy to report that this long-standing claim has been liquidated, and that the police portion of the telegraph is now the property of the United States. DISCIPLINE OF THE FORCE. In the enforcement of a proper state of discipline and efficiency on the part of the force the board has, upon charges being preferred and trials accorded, dismissed thirty-three members from the force, reprimanded eight, fined twelve, dismissed complaints against sixty-four, and has dropped one from the roll. At the present time the discipline and efficiency of the members of the force is quite satisfactory. The officers and privates seem to manifest a commendable degree of esprit du corps in their general bearing and in the manner of performing their duties. For a more detailed account of the past year's operations of the police force of the District you are respectfully referred to the statistical and tabular statement submitted herewith. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. NICHOLS, President. 1 1 1 1 1 1 22222222 16 12 *During the year the first and eighth precincts were consolidated. The table shows the disposition of the force at the present time. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 10.. Detectives Total... No. 3.-Table showing the number of arrests in each precinct. No. 4.-Table showing the ages of the males arrested classified. Precincts. 1. 2. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 10. Detectives Adultery No. 5.—Table showing the ages of the females arrested classified. Total...... From 10 to 20. From 20 to 30. From 30 to 40. 30 43 199 119 131 73 191 33 Bigamy Disorderly conduct Deserters. 901 Offences against the person. Assault and battery. Assault and battery with intent to kill Assault on policemen Attempt at rape Fast riding or driving. Garroting Habitual drunkenness Aiding and assisting to escape Accessory to murder.. 125 120 117 608 152 258 171 463 49 2,063 No. 6.—Recapitulation of offences classified. 1 123 113 Vagrancy Witness to murder confined in default of security. Total...... 101 164 68 256 159 210 12 1,207 40 and over. Males. 96 1,058 80 11 11 1 7 19 4,802 46 163 519 48 4 3 1,958 2,024 71 24 160 11 13 8 47 30 418 463 9 12, 128 Total. 2 318 380 366 1,037 393 784 462 946 97 4,785 Total. 5 119 1,176 84 11 11 2 1 8 19 6,731 46 164 560 59 5 2,252 2,558 6 74 7 40 67 501 15 14 8 47 31 583 595 13 15, 817 |