Evening star., 1941-09-08
Kelly Tells Citizens
He Will Tolerate No
Violence by Police
Six Demands Made
At Meeting Attended
By 1000 Persons

Acting SupC. OF Ponce EDWARD y.
Kelly yesterday promised the emer-
gency conference called by the
Citizens Committee Against Police
Brutality that "as long as I am
head of the Police Department I
will not tolerate violence against
any citizen or against any police
officer"
The acting superintendent OF
police, who had listened to several
severe attacks on the Police Depart
ment, discussed six demands made
by the citizens group.
The six demands were: One,
suspension and grand jury investi-
CATION of Policeman Donald Webber
in connection with the shooting OF
Edward and Jasper Cobb; two, that
Mai. Kelly effectively deal with po-
lice brutality" and have the police
manual rules dealing with use OF
fire arms read at each change OF
shift at precinct stations; three, that
a citizens trial board replace the
present Police Trial Board; four
that so Negroes be appointed out OF
the 1876 new police appointments re-
Gently ordered for the District and
that a Negro be named captain OF
precinct 2; five, that charges be
placed against persons "immedl-
ately upon arrest or detention, ano
six. compensation for all depend
ents of persons killed by police.
Regarding the demand for a
citizens trial board to replace the
present police trial board, the acting
head of police said: Il favor a
change" of the trial board setup,
recommending that it be composed
of one member of the Police De-
partment, one representative from
the District Building and one person
from the outside, either "colored OF
white"
Answering charges that the trial
board had, in a number OF instances
whitewashed cases, Acting Supt'
Kelly drew applause when ne oe-
clared:
"I personally never want TO see
anv case whitewashed. Let justice
be done. let the chips fall where
they may"
Discusses Webber Case.
As for the demand for suspension
of policeman Webber, who was held
bv a coroner's jury to have been
justified in shooting the Cobb broth
ers, the chief of police pointed out
that he was not in command OF the
department at the time of the IN
cident. He told the group that they
as citizens had the right to go to
the District attorneys Office and re-
quest grand jury action.
Mai. Kelly defended his record
against discrimination. He clteo
his personal effort to investigate
charges of assaults on Negroes last
winter by two police officers. Both
of the officers, he said are still sus'
pended.
Admits Colored Police Need.
Acting Supt. Kelly admitted that
there was need for more coloreo
police officers in the District.
The acting chief mentioned col
ored detective sergeant In the De-
tective Bureau, and said that If he
were on the list for promotion, his
name would receive careful consid-
Grafton, Four of the 80 rockies In
the Police School are colored, hi
said, and added that he had under
consideration two other colored mer
previously rejected.
Mai. Kelly touched briefly on tht
sixth demand, which called for com
pensation to families of persons
killed by police. He said simply tina
there was no fund from which sucf
money might be provided.
The conference, which was held
in the Metropolitan Baptist Church
near the corner of Twelfth and r
streets NV, and attended by al
most 1000 persons, was presided
over by Prof. Doxey Wilkerson. as
sistant professor of education at
Howard University.
Rights Being Violated
He said the meeting had been
called because "our rights are being
violated by brutal and oppressive
police action. We recognize the
responsibility of police to apprehend
criminals and to protect themselves
but we do not recognize the right
of police officers, not in danger, but
only giving expression to brutal
makeup, to beat their victims, Prof
Wilkerson declared.
Prof. Wilkerson also attacked the
so-called "dragnet" system, where
by patrol wagons are sent out tc
round up number of persons. Maj
Kelly, in his speech, said that he
didn't believe in sporadic raids
I mean in fishing expeditions.
Maj. Kelly said that sometimes
there was need for an arrest for in
vestigation. but that no one should
be held without justification"
Police brutality, Prof. Wilkersor
declared, used to be considered {
local problem, but today 'it mus
be viewed in terms of world signifi.
cance." Police brutality and racia
discrimination, he charged, "art
part and parcel of this evil we ar,
fighting on the international front
Anything which divides our peo
ple," he concluded, "is a threat tt
the defense of our Nation"
Removal of Sullivan Demanded.
John Davis, national secretary o
the National Negro Congress, de-
clared that I'VE are in a perioe
when every one of us must flint
some way in which we can liv'
peacefully together-a real nationa
unity"
Mr.. Davis received loud applaus
when he demanded the removal o
Capt. jeremiah Sullivan of precinc
2. the suspension of Policeman
Webber and the appointment of
Negro captain, charging that not on
Negro has ever been given a ram
above sergeant.
Mr.. Davis urged that $4,000 peopl
sign the petition embodying the ST
demands that was circulated at tn
meeting. He also urged that TOO
or 5000 people march in a parad
| to be staged Sunday.