Evening star., 1942-07-12
keech Will Study
Question Of Arminq
Auxiliary Police
Commissioner YOUNG
Refers Problem to
Corporation Counsel

Complicated legal questions in.
volved in the proposal to arm about
1000 auxiliary police in the District
will be considered by Corporation
Counsel Richmond B. Keech early
this week. he said last night. HI
indicated, however, the problem.
will require careful study, and may
require considerable time to reach
an opinion.
The matter was referred to Mr.
Keech yesterday by Commissioner
Young, who is United States CO.
ordinator for civilian defense fol
the Metropolitan Area.
While praising the courage, en-
thusiasm and results accomplished
by the corps ~ Yohanteer policemen
MI. Young sid He was faced with
many ydfMclllt problems and was
holding, IN allegiance any definite
conclusions as to what could
be done.
K1asy FAyetable 10 Proposal.
ApprOvaL With reservations, was
accorded the proposal BY Mai. Ed
ward J. Kelly, superintendent OF
police, In comprehensive memo
randum submitted to Commissioner
Young. He wrote: with proper
safeguards established for the pro-
lection Of citizens and members OF
the auxiliary police, and with the
legal status Of auxiliary police clear
ly defined as that of law enforce
ment officers, and set forth in writ
ing, this department would favor
these men being armed"
Commissioner Young said as soon
as he received the legal opinion OF
the corporation counsel, he would
lay the matter before the whole
Board OF Commissioners.
Col. Lemuel Bolles, executive di-
rector for civilian defense, during an
informal conference on the matter
with Commissioner Young yesterday
expressed limited approval of the
project. AS an Army Infantry Of
ficer, Col Bolles said he believed
IN giving arms to men assigned to
hazardous duties, but opposed gen.
eral distribution of revolvers to the
whole force to be carried at all
times.
Col. Bolles felt that II legal diff
flculties could be ironed out, it
would be well to have a supply OF
arms to be kept at the police sta
tions anc handed out to the aux
iliary police if and when they may
be assigned to hazardous jobs. The
auxiliary force was praised by Col
Bolles as "excellent with a high
degree OF esprit de corps"
Commissioner Young indicated he
would refer the whole matter to
Col. Bolles for an oficial report
sometime this week.
Weapons Hard to Obtain.
Among the practical dificultie.
faced by the District in arming the
volunteers, Mr.. Young said woulc
be the expense, estimated at about
$100, 900 and the difficulty in obtain
ing any kind of weapons
Major Kelly in his official report
pointed out several reasons why
arming the auxiliary men would be
beneficial, but raised several serious
legal questions in putting such q
scheme into effect. These are now
before Mr.. Keech.
rs it fair to citizens generally,
asked Major Kelly" to place on the
streets group of armed men whose
knowledge of the law and exper-
ience with deadly weapons must
necessarily be assumed to be very
limited at best?
rs it fair to members Of the
auxiliary police to permit them tc
arm themselves, and thereby te
subject themselves to the penalties
provided for any improper use OF
their weapons unless they have
been fully instructed with respect
to circumstances under which such
weapons may be used, and are
thoroughly proficient in their use?
Reasonable Doubt.
'In spite of the recent decision
of one of the judges in the lower
court with respect to the right OF
an auxiliary officer to carry a
weapon, is the status of a member
of the auxiliary police as a law
enforcement officer sufficiently de-
fined to put the legal question OF
his right to carry arms beyond any
reasonable doubt?
rs there any practical and rea-
sonable way of authorizing some
members of the auxiliary police to
carry weapons providing they have
demonstrated knowledge of the
law and proficiency In the use o.
such weapons and at the same time
7SAN POT.ffE B010 z.3zY