The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-24
POLICE POWER In PARKS
Authorities Discover an Old Sat
ute on the Subject
Reservations No Longer Refuge for
DisorderIy Persons-The ofhcers 10
as i'm City Streets-A Mfsapprehen-
sion Disposed of-An Odd Mistake.

The question that has been disturbing
the local police as TO whether or not they
have the same power 10 make arrests in
public parks and buildings as they have in
the streets Of the city was settled in the
affirmative this morning. In going through
the statutes relating 10 the governing of
parks in the District an old law was I'M
earthed. which declares that all policemen
have such power. The law will hereafter
be rigidly enforced. The discovery of the
law was brought about by complaint OF
vandalism in parks that was received by
thet Commissioners several days ago, from
a resident of Capitol Hill.
The complaint was noted by the Com
missioners. and the writer was Informed
that inasmuch as the vandalism occurred
on Government reservation the District
authorities had no power to stop it.
It seemed to be the opinion of some OF
the officials at the District building, that
the city police force could not patrol the
parks and public places because the force
is a District institution, whereas the parks
are controlled solely by the United States
Government and are under the personal
direction OF Col Theodore Bingham, Su-
perintendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds.
careful examination of the old statutes
on the subject however, brought to light
the fact that the police employed in the
District have authority TO make arrests
wherever disorder may occur.
The idea that they have no such authori-
" has been held by many citizens, and by
- IL for ~
as well. and has often prevented arrests
that should have been made. The statute
referred to states that the police have con-
current jurisdiction with the watchmen
employed by the Government, and that
they shall al all times be on the alert TO
render assistance to the Government po-
lice.
During the night the parks and reserva-
tions are not patrolled by the watchmer,
and the police are supposed TO keep guard
over these places equally as well as they
watch the other portions Of the city.
Ii is supposed that the erroneous idea OF
the limited authority of the police gained
credence before the organization OF the
present force, when the parks were more
directly under the control of the Govern
ment officials. and were foreign territory SO
far as the District officials were concerned
Then II was the custom LOT cTluIihals
seeking TO escape the officers, 10 run into
one OF the larger parks and the police would
not dare follow them.
This custom was observed by many petty
Offenders as we'll and the result is that 10
this day when small boys have violated such
police regulations as playing ball in the
streets or throwing stones. they will make
for public reservation under the impress
sion tha; the policemen cannot follow them
Ever since the organization of the prss-
ent police force and the enactment of the
metropolitan police statute, however, the
District officers have had the authority tc
make arrests in any part of the city and u
is expected that those members Of the force
who do not understand this will be informed
on the subject Immediately.