Evening star., 1942-06-28
Bv CARTER BROOKS JONES.

These young Government girls
who throng Washington have a new
set of friends and protectors they
probably know nothing about.
And any shady feminine char
scters who may drift IN WITH the
tide of war Workers-shopllfters,
confidence game operators or mem
bers of an older professlon-haVe
fresh lot of foes
Quite unobtrusively and without
attendant publicity, Capt. Rhoda j.
Milliken. head of the Women Bu-
reau. has recruited more than !oo
auxiliary policewomen-for the ou-
ration.
While these volunteers, like their
1000 male colleagues, are enrolieo
primarily against the day OF CRISIS
that one day may dawn for WASH
inpton thev are learning, mean
while, how to be policewomen. lhey
are helping Capt. Milliken's regu-
lars patrol their beats and make
their Investigations.
They're reinforcing the regular
policewomen these nights at taV-
erns and dance halls, at Union sta
tion and the bus terminals. In the
night spots they try to see that
minors are not served liquor ana
that young girls who seem TO be
headed for trouble are at least
warned. At the stations they heIp
watch for fugitives from justice and
runaway girls. They care for nome
less women and stranded children
and do the many helpful things
that Capt. Milliken's policeWomen
always have done.
Sometimes Work Alone.
The auxiliaries go with regulars,
and sometimes are sent alone, 10 IN
vestigate domestic tangles and otner
social difficulties which always con-
front policewomen. They are con-
stantly on the lookout for missing
women and children.
Washington's volunteer police
women include welfare workers.
LAWYERS. businesswomen and plain
housewives. Like the auxiliary po-
licemen, these women receive no
COMPENSATION except in the satS-
faction it gives them to donate their
time for an important phase OF
civilian defense.
They put in at least six hours
week each. usually in two shifts OF
three hours. They are trained In
the same general subjects the men
study-police and traffic regula-
tions, first aid. bombs, gas. But
Capt. Milliken sees that her volIln-
teer takes 20 hours of first aid in
stead of the usual 10 hours.
1T seems futile to put in only
10 hours on first aid" Miss Williams
explains. IF they are to take it at
all. they might as well learn some
thing about it."
There are three instructors in,
first aid among the auxiliary police
women, graduates of advanced Red
Cross courses. Two others are
versed in map reading.
Work Is Done Well.
On a typical night you'll find,
If YOU explore the situation, 80
auxiliaries On the streets or at such
posts as passenger terminals. Seven
more will be at the Women's Bu-
reau learning the routine. There
are five details on practice police
work and the volunteers put in dlt-
ferent hours and days, depending
on their available time.
Auxiliary policeWomen have taken
women prisoners to other cities in
extradition cases, and have returned
runaway children and escorted
mental patients to hospitals in varl-
Gus States. The volunteers have not
been accompanied by regular police
women on these responsible assign
ments, but have been entirely on
their own.
Every such job has been done
without hitch, Capt. Mllllken re-
ports. and the willingness of aux
iliaries 70 undertake these tickliSh
details mas released regular police
women for important work at home.
work made more complex and de-
manding by war conditions.
The auxiliarieS have helped un-
cover evidence in several cases which
the Women Bureau has inyeStl-
gated. Some of these probes have
resulted in such charges as con-
tributing to the delinquency OF
minors.
Two auxiliaries happened on the
scene of a collision. and the IN
cidental" they turned in would have
done credit to veteran officers.
Don't Swing Sticks.
The volunteers receive much the
same equipment the male auxiliaries
get-arm bands. overseas caps, pa
tons and ralncoats.
But the girls leave the raincoats
behind, no matter what the weather.
They don't regard these garments