Evening star., 1940-06-30
Montgomery Board
Dismisses 0rme
As Police Chief
Further Investigation
OF Mob Attack on
Sect Ordered


gomery, County Board of Commits
sioners yesterday ordered further
investigation into the June 10 meet
ing of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rock
vile, Md, which was broken up by
mob when members Of the sect re-
fused to salute the flag.
The motion to dismiss Chief Orme
was offered by Commissioner r. w
Farmer, who nominated him for the
police chiefs post more than
year ago. and the board split along
political lines. Commissioner o. w.
Robey and Board President Thomas
E. Hampton supported Mr.. Farm
er's motion. All are organization
Democrats. Commissioners Walter
P. johnson, Republican, and John
E. Oxley, anti-organization Demo-
crat, opposed the motion.
I'm 100 per cent opposed to
mob rule" Mr.. johnson said, "or
to politics or religion on the police
force, but I couldn't vote for dis
missal of Chief Orme from what
I've heard"
Oxley Urges Benefit of Doubt"
Mr.. OXley called attention to the
fact that Chief Orme was not given
the benefit of counsel at the board
hearing and said he believed he
should "be given the benefit of the
doubt"
Mr.. Hampton pointed out that
Chief Orme, in accordance with the
regulations of the police depart
ment, should have proceeded at once
to the scene of the riot. where head
quarters of the sect was wrecked by
mob.
Law enforcement is not casual
matter he declared. Yet Chief
Orme displayed no great interest in
the situation in Rockville when he
was notified by Sergt. Guy Jones, in
charge at the time, and even asked
if he should leave his home in
Gaithersburg, miles away.
Failed to Show Leadership.
I'VE regret that such an incident
should occur in this county, We
regret that when the emergency did
arise, the man in whom we had
placed confidence failed in his pre-
scribed duties, and failed to eXem-
plify that initiative and quality of
leadership which is essential in a
chief of police responsible for the
protection of safety of the 10000
residents of Montgomery County.
I'VE regret that the boards deci-
sion could not have been unanimous
today. However, we reaf1rm our de-
termination to guarantee the people
of this county that as sworn officers
OF the law, we shall continue to ex-
ert every effort to assure prompt
and adequate law enforcement, and
to guarantee to them the constitu-
tional rights of free people"
Justice Probe Continues.
The boards action was taken after
States Attorney Ben G. Wilkinson,
jr., had testified in executive session
on visit to the Department of JUS
tlce in connection with the case.
After he left the board room, Mr..
Wilkinson issued the following state
ment:
During the Board of County
Commissioners investigation of the
incident of June 10, In which
crowd of people broke in on the
Jehovahs Witnesses meeting. 1
have had an opportunity to confer
with Henry A. Scheinhaut, chief of
the civil liberties section of the
criminal division, Department of
Justice, concerning the matter.
THE department is still investi-
eating the facts, but I think it will
be satisfied that the Board of Com
missioners has taken adequate steps
through administrative action in
dismissing the chief of police and
that I have instituted appropriate
prosecutive action.
Il feel sure that as long as we
ourselves in Montgomery County
can control occurrences of this type,
there will be no necessity for inter-
vention by the Federal Govern
ment."
Three to Be Tried.
DuIiug Cne session, several pO-
licemen's names were mentioned and
Mr.. Farmer suggested that all
officers mentioned in connection
with the case be investigated. The
motion carried unanimously.
The trial of the three police
officers on duty in Rockville at
the time of the riot will be heard
by the Police Trial Board within the
next week or 10 days. They are
under civil service and will be rep
resented by counsel at the trial
board hearing
The board took no action on
successor to Chief Orme. Since his
Sergt. Roy Bodmer has
been acting chief