Evening star., 1939-02-16
Tri-State Conference
Formed for Drive on
Numbers Racket
District, Maryland ond
Virginia Effect
Enforcement Tieup

Adoption of "hot" pursuit law
for the District, which would eradi-
cate Maryland and Virginia bound
aries in chase Of suspected GRIM
inals, will be one of the first major
objectives of "tri-State" law en-
forcement conference, formed yes
terday by District, Maryland and
Virginia authorities.
Maryland and Virginia already
have laws permitting reciprocal
arrangement in pursuit of criminals
across State boundaries, with other
jurisdictions having similar arrange
ments. Adoption of such law for
the District will permit closer link
between District, Maryland and Vir-
ginia authorities. it was explained.
At the call of District Commis-
sioner Melvin c. Hazen. score of
law enforcement and legal repre-
sentatives of the three Jurisdictions
met yesterday to plan more con-
certed drive against lawbreakers,
with particular attention to the
numbers" racketeers. AS result,
permanent organization was formed,
with Major Ernest w. Brown, super
intendent of police, as chairman.
Oliver Gasch, assistant corporation
counsel, was named secretary.
The new body will be known as
the District of Columbia, Maryland
and Virginia Law Enforcement OFF,
GERS Association.
Brown Offers Program,
A six-point program offered by
Maj. Brown will be taken up for
more detailed consideration. at a
second meeting during March. The
outline included the following
points:
Cd District legislation for hot"
pursuit law now being drafted BY
Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal
at the request of Maj Brown.
ca New legislation to enable ad-
joining Jurisdictions and the Dis
trict to proceed more effectively
against gambling and the numbers"
game.
j., go Vesting authority in law en-
forcement officers of the three juris-
dlctions on reciprocal basis to
apprehend traffic violators on major
traffic offenses. such as speeding,
reckless driving or operating while
drunk, or where a vehicle has been
involved in an accident causing
serious injury or large property
damage.
"a Cooperation with law en-
forcement officers as to the large
number of transients frequenting
the District.
90 Deputizing officers of the three
jurisdictions with power to make
arrests in all three Jurisdictions
90 Additional extension of the
police teletype and radio services in
cooperative law-enforcement activi-
ties.
One Plan Found Impractical.
The conference was advised that
one suggested cooperative plan had
been found legally impossible by
ofhcials of the District corpora
tion counSels office. This was the
suggestion that nonresident traf-
fic violator, lacking SUFFICIENT funds
to post as collateral, be permitted
to deposit his drivers permit to
guarantee his appearance in court,
as means of avoiding being locked
up overnight.
In addition to Commissioners
Hazen and David McCoach, jr.,
those attending the conference in
cluded: Police Court Judge John
P. Mcmahon. Corporation Counsel
Seal, Traffic Director william A. Van
Duzer, Assistant Traffic Director
M. o. Eldridge, Maj. Brown, Po-
lice Inspector Bernard w. Thomp-
son, Harry Underwood, assistant
United States attorney; j. William
Garrett, Montgomery County chief
of police: James c. Christopher,
acting States attorney of Mont
gomery County; United States Mar
shall John B. Colpoys, Lawrence w.
Douglas, commonwealth attorney
of Arlington County; Armistead
Boothe. city attorney of Alexandria;
Paul Brown, commonwealth attor-
ney of Fairfax County; Howard
B. Fields, Arlington County sheriff;
Eppa P. Kirby, Fairfax County
sheriff, and Albert v. Bryan, Alex
andria commonwealth attorney.