Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-02
R|VERDALE POLICE
FORCED TO RESIGN
HyattsviIIe Mayor AssallS
Tactics-ToWn Council Gets
Officers to Quit.

AS n. result of meeting of the
town council of Riverdale, Md. last
night. attended by many citizens in
dignant because of frequent com.
plants lodged against alleged speed
traps maintained by Riverdale ponce
officers. the designations of the entire
police force were asked for and ac'
cepted.
Mayor John H. Schaefer stated
that Riverdale will be without police
force until May, when a new council
will be elected which will have the
power to create a new force. lt Is
probable that a salaried officer VIII De
appointed, he said, doing away entirety
with fee officers, which result, he
said, in many arrests which would not
otherwise be made.
HyattsvilIe Mayor Speaks.
Irwin Owings, mayor of Hyattsville,
was present at the meeting and made
a strong speech assailing the tactics
which he alleged were employed by
Harvey r. Smith. deposed Riyerdale
police head. and his three under
bailiffs. He cited incidents which had
been reported to him of improper ar
rests and pointed out that the two
municipalities are divided by paper
line' on the Washington Baltimore
boulevard and that Hyattsville was
gaining an undeserved national repu'
tation for maintaining speed trap.
Former Chief Smith, speaking for
himself and for the men who were
under hifn-Shipley. Mallette and
Monrote-charged that creation OF
popular sentiment against his force
was the result of personal animosity
entertained toward him by Mayor
Owings, who, he said, had been try
ing to "get him" for years.
Denies Personal Motives.
Mayor Owings admitted that he had
long worked for the removal of Smith
from Office, but denied that he was
motivated by any personal anirnosity
but for the well-being of the en-
tire community. He said that 10 years
ago Smith was one of the leaders in q
speed trap at Hyattsville which gave
the community a reputation which il
had just succeeding in living down
and which he felt Smith was endanger
ing again. Smith admitted the ex
istence of the trap 10 years ago, but
explained that it was legal at that
time and denied operation of a speed
trap since that time.
fetal conduct of Smith and his men as
improper" and said that the action
of the Riverdale meeting last night
would have been taken without the
presence of or urging by the neigh
boring mayor of Hyattsyille.
Received Many Complaints.
There is i'll feeling between the
men," he said. "but that had nothing
to do with the meeting. The action
of our council would have been taken
anyway. If the officers hadn't been
fee officers, they would not have
made so many arrests. We have re-
ceived many complaints concerning
their activities"
The feeling against the operations
of the fee officers was brought to a
head by the action Wednesday night
of American Automobile Association
representatives, who visited Riverdale
and caused the arrest of former
Constable T.. r. Greer, whose COM
mission has expired and John Rickard,
who drove his car, on charges in
volving the operation of an auto with
but one light. Rickard was charged
also with driving without permit
Both men drew fines.
HyattSvlile 10 AID.
The A. A. A. investigators, Attor-
ney C. c. Collins and T. f. Behler,
were present at the meeting last
night, but took no part in the discus
sion. Mayor Owings indicated that
he might cause action to be taken
against Greer for making Illegal ar
rests in Hyattsyille after his con-
stables commission had expired.
Pending the creation of a new
Riverdale police force, the Hyattsville
authorities have promised their CO
operation, although the chief of police
of Hyattsville would be unable to
make arrests out of that town. His
bailiffs, however, could be sworn in
to protect the Riverdale section if
need should arise. and Sheriff Early
and his deputies of Prince Georges
County are, of course, authorized to
make arrests in Riverdale.
Former Chief Smith was emphatic
in attributing his virtual dismissal
to the personal animosity of Mayor
Owings. He stated Furthermore, that
he voluntarily rendered his resigna-
ton and that of his men out of defer
ence to popular sentiment, which he
admitted was against him, but con-
tended that it was actuated by the ef-
forts of the Hyattsville mayor.