Evening star., 1942-06-11
D. T.. Heads Will Seek
Exemption Rule on
Police and Firemen
Turn to Hershey os Droft
Shrinks Forces; Shortage
OF III Officers Exists

The problem Of how to main
tain Washington's police and fire
forces at full strength, in view of
departures for military service,
will be presented to Maj. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey, selective serv-
ice director, by the Commission
ers, it was announced today by
Commissioner Young.
The district head has in mind the
possibility that Gen. Hershey might
find it desirable to establish a policy
as to the draft or deferment of
policemen and firemen where their
civilian service is essential for pub
lie protection. The Associated Press
reports that Mayor La Guardia Of
New York has been given a formula
for deferment of New York's police
men and flremen.
Age Limit Passed.
Other steps are being taken by
officials to prevent further dimuni-
ton in Capital and District fire and
police forces. Commissioner Young
announced today the Commissioners
have raised the maximum age limit
Of 80 years for entrance to the de-
partments to permit entrance of
men up to So during the war.
Further. Police Supt. Edward J.
Kelly was directed to submit rec
concentrations for modification of
the existing rules as TO height and
weight of police applicants.
During a conference today with
Maj. Kelly. Commissioner Young
ascertained that whereas the author
lied strength of the department is
Ill, there are actually 1894 men
in the department, showing III va
cancies.
Young said today:
II think it is great thing for
men to volunteer or to answer the
call to the colors. I would be the
last man in the world to discour-
age men from so serving their
country. AS Commissioners, how
ever, we cannot escape the fact
there is a very serious problem con-
fronting us. We must have a suf-
| ficient number of trained men to
man our police and fire depart
ments."
Mr.. Young said that because Of
the importance of Washington as
the seat of the national government
there was reason to worry about
the size of the police force. He
recalled that year ago Washing
ton had crime wave" that the
department was at low ebb," so
much so that a congressional inves-
tigation resulted. This, he added,
brought about an immediate au-
thorization for an increase of 100
in the police force, with about 100
more authorized later.
He recalled that so of the auxil-
iary police, enlisted under the ci-
william defense program, had been
sworn in as defense guards" in the
police force and that $50 or more
others were employed as guards
for the Districts vital water sys-
tenn. I'VE may have to have more
of these" said Mr.. Young. but it
must be remembered that we can
not employ just any man as a rookie
policeman and give him a gun and
tell him to perform the job of a
trained officer That takes proper
selection and time for training"
Policing Job is City's.
In suggesting that some steps
may be taken soon, Mr.. Young said
I'VE don't want to call on the mill
tary to police Washington. That
is our job"
There have been some suggestions
that policemen and firemen were
rushing to enlist in the military
services because of proposed changes
in the police and fire retirement
systems, under which, If adopted,
retirement benefits would be re-
duced and retirement pay deduc-
tions would be boosted. Mr.. Young
said he did not believe that was
the case, adding that Congress had
required such a study to be made.
but that the Commissioners had
not yet received or taken a posi-
ton on the pending report.
No doubt it is true, he said, that
younger men in the departments,
who might be drafted, may be seek
ing commissions under which they
might obtain extra pay and allow
ances, perhaps totaling as much as
or more than their pay as police
men. You can't blame q man for
that ha e~;d