Evening star., 1932-08-20
POLICE TO CREATE
EMERGENCY SQUAD
TO HANDLE RIOTS
GIassford Announces Plans
For Specially Armed and
Equipped Unit.
LIEUT.. H. G. CALLAHAN
WILL BE IN COMMAND
Three sergeants and ~ Privates
Will Make Up Personnel
of Three Divisions.

Plans for the organization shortly of
a specially armed and equipped squad
Of police for service in case Of riots
or other emergencies where the lives
Of policemen or private citizens may
be endangered were announced by
Superintendent of Police Pelham D.
Glassford yesterday afternoon.
The squad, to be known as the
Emergency Squad" will be commanded
by Lieut.. Harvey G. Callahan, in
charge of the Police School, and is to
include in its personnel three sergeants
and "a privates
All squad members will be equipped
with gas masks and steel helmets and
the squad will have charge Of all chemi-
cal and special equipment Of the Police
Department, including sub-machine
guns, riot guns. rifles. shotguns and
bullet-proof vests. The squad at all
times will be under direct orders of the
superintendent Of police or his execu-
tive officer.
Divided in Three Sections.
The squad will be divided into three
sections, with q sergeant in command
of each section and so arranged that
one of the sections will be on duty at
all times. The members will continue
at their regular duties at the precincts
or wherever they are assigned. but will
be subject to immediate call for duty
on the squad and are to proceed i'm
mediately to the scene Of trouble by
the most convenient means available
at the time.
At the scene the members are TO
gather around specially equipped
automobile which Is to proceed there
from some central location, probably
police headquarters. In the event of a
small riot only one section Of the squad
would be called out, but the other
sections would be called whenever
needed. Arrangements are to be made
so the members of the squad not on
duty at the time may be quickly
reached at their homes.
A list Of personnel, including those
believed specially suited FOR. duty or
the squad. is being studied and from
this list the squad members will be
chosen. The squad members are to
be given such regular duties at the
precincts as to make them readily
available for work with the emergency
squad when summoned.
Among the services enumerated for
the squad in addition to stopping riots
are the capture of barricaded criminals
or insane persons. All requests for
services of the squad must be made to
Gen. Glassford, the executive officer or
night supervisor.
Instructions Detailed.
The order, containing details for
organization of the squad, gives the
following instructions for calling it
out.
I'm case Of any emergency requiring
the use of chemicals or special equip
ment, the senior officer FIRST at the
scene shall communicate with the major
and superintendent, the executive ON
Ger or night supervisor, requesting the
request shall be Immediately transmit
ted to the central bureau. giving such
instructions as may be necessary for
assembling all or part Of the emergency
squad.
It Is pointed out that police will con-
tinue to go to scenes in the same
manner as in the past where calls are
put in for them, and that the riot squad
Is to be called out only where needed.
Should a sudden emergency arise
where there Is insufficient time to
assemble the emergency squad and
requiring the exercise of immediate
action, any offlcer above the rank OF
sergeant may direct the use Of such
special equipment as he may have
available, pending the arrival on the
scene of the emergency squad. In
such cases the officer directing the
employment of chemicals or other spe-
cial equipment shall make a complete
report OF the circumstances to the
major and superintendent" the ordec
says.
The squad will be given special
training for its duties. 1t Is estimated
by Gen. Glassford that with each sec
tion including eight privates that ap-
proximately six Of them would be on
duty at any time-f1guring on leaves,
days of, etc.