Evening star., 1942-03-02
Police, Wardens
Cautioned on
bLackout Action
Cooperation Keynote
Of 10-Hour Test
Tomorrow Night

Police and civilian defenders who
patrol the streets tomorrow night in
the Districts first long practice
blackout will bend over backwards
10 seek cooperation and avoid
arbitrary, harsh or unreasonable
action" according to the orders
completing plans for the N-hour
period.
Commanding officers were ordered
by Supt. of Police Edward J. Kelly
to utilize the services of auxiliary
police as well as the regular force to
prevent looting or other crimes un-
der the cover Of darkness. The
blackout runs from pm. tomorrow
to s am. Wednesday. ..-.
Maj. Kelly's special order i'm
pressed on police the absolute
necessity for exercising the greatest
of judgment and patience in deal
ing with violations of the blackout
regulations.
Lights Out" Order.
In cases of refusal to comply with
sequests to extinguish or obscure
lights. Maj. Kelly instructed, police
will turn in written memorandums
on which to get out warrants and
make possible court prosecution of
violators.
Police, he said, should thoroughly
understand that "in carrying out
the provisions of these orders, they
must act with the greatest of
discretion and must at all costs
avoid arbitrary, harsh or unreason-
able action likely to result in an un-
favorable reaction on the part of
the citizens and in complaints
against the police.
Summary arrest for violation of
these orders should be avoided. How
ever, disorderly conduct of physical
assaults on members Of the force
arising out of efforts on the part of
police to inforce these regulations
must be firmly dealt with.
1T is not desired that any citizen
be forcibly seized or dragged out of
his home or place of business for
failure or refusal to comply with
these regulations. Warrants should
be applied for IN all such instances
before any arrest is made
Wardens Cautioned.
Maj. Kelly warned his force
against permitting themselves to be
talked into action contrary to the
spirit of the order by any wardens.
Similar cautions were laid down |
for members of the AFRAID warden |
service by Chief Warden Clement |
Murphy at meeting of deputy warrt
dens at warden service headquarters, |
1341 Maryland avenue N. E., yester-
day.
He warned them not to be like
"rookie cops" but helpful and CO.
operative, and told them that in no
case should they permit civilian de-
fense committeeman to interfere
with the operation of the warden
service.
Unless you see fragrant vio-
lator, please do not og to the police
about it, he urged. Explain to the
offending party. in nice way, what
should be done and invite his CO.
operation"
During the informal discussion of
the forthcoming blackout. a ques-
ton was asked about Mrs. Sarah
Montgomery, volunteer in the air
raid warden service who once was
cited by the Dies committee for al
legged connection with the American
Peace Mobilization Committee.
Record Clear, He Declares.
"If she is ever forced OUT. de-
elared Chief Murphy, I'll go, too. p"
Terming Mrs. Montgomery cap
able and working, he said he
had taken her to the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation after he
learned OF the Dies committees
action.
They had nothing on her, no
record. no fingerprints, no any
thing" he said.
Although, he told the meeting,
there were many details to be ironed
out through future blackout prac-
tices, Were going to learn more
about blackouts Tuesday night than.
anybody in the United States knows
today"
More than $4,000 volunteers are
expected to be on the street for the
blackout practice. Members Of the
emergency and housing unit will re-
port to their church headquarters
for one hour of duty, from {. pm.
to pm, -, '~5