Evening star., 1943-01-12
McCarran Asks
Auxiliary Police
ToStay on Job
Kelly HoIts Petrol
Work, but Retoins
0CD Training

police to stay on the job despite the
ruling by the Commissioners that
these auxiliaries can be used only in
times Of actual air raids, tests or
other emergencies, was made today
by Chairman McCarran Of the Sem
ate District Committee.
'These patriotic citizens would be
serving the best interests Of the
community if they stay on the job,
said Senator McCarran. They are
now occupying place of distinction
and of valuable service and I feel
sure that Sthey will want to main
tain it."s ~
Senator Mccarran made it plain
that he did not intend to take issue
with the ruling of the District off,
cials since it was clearly the in
tent Of Congress in permitting the
creation of the auxiliary force that
they should be used only in time
of emergency. However, he pointed
out that the auxiliaries are not
armed and do not wear uniforms
and that the establishment of this
force by Congress was distinctly
limited SO that they should. not be
used as regular policemen.
Meanwhile, Maj. Edward j. Kelly
superintendent of police, said that in
line with his Interpretation OF the
Commissioners order, auxiliary DO
lice in the future will be given the
% hours training required by the
Office OF Civilian Defense, but, the
former practice of patrolling the
streets with regulars will be aban-
doned.
The training includes fire and gas
defense, first aid, drill and a general
course on the civilian defense or
ganization.
Maj. Kelly explained that he was
following, the order to the letter.
Although Commissioner Guy Ma
son said yesterday that training
would be left to Maj. Kelly, the DO
lice. Superintendent said he could
find nothing in the order about
training and assumed, therefore
that training on duty was eliminated.
Few Training Restrictions.
When informed that the ranks of
the auxiliary police were being con-
stantly depleted because men were
going into the armed forces and re-
placements were necessary, Commits
slo1,er Mason said there were no re-
strlctions on training as long as the
auxlliaries do not wear uniforms
carry arms or assume powers of
arrest.
In the national OCD training
manual for auxiliary police. the
auX1llarieS are notified that "it is to
be expected that a considerable part
OF your training will be practical
training under work assignments. 1t
will consist of the actual perform
ance of the duties you may expect
to perform during actual air raids
or blackouts."
The manual goes on to state that
at first the auXiliaries will be as
signed to double harness" with a
regular officer as was done here.
The next step. the manual outlined,
will be handling situations with the
regular officer supervising and the
final phase will be assignments ION
your own
Commissioner Mason also indi-
cated late yesterday that the Com
nissioners did not plan to follow
the recommendations included by
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech in a flve-page legal opin-
ion on, 1865 special police sought
by Maj. Kelly
PRINCIPAL Recommendation.
The principal recommendation
was that the 1865 men recon-
mended by the police superin-
tendent be vested with all the
powers and duties of privates of the
regular force with the restrictions
that they continue to be known as
auxiliary police, that they perform
their duties only during actual or
practice alarm periods and during
other definite hours of duty for
training purposes, that they wear
Identifying equipment, that they
be forbidden to carry firearms and
that they be vested with such
powers and duties of sergeants.
captains and other officers of the
metropolitan police as may be rec
commended by the police superin-
tendent.
Mr.. Keech's recommendation was
a. substitute for the request made
by Maj. Kelly. Mr.. Keech said that
eny liability which the District may
have with respect to auxiliary police
could not be waived by payment Of
dollar a year as had been sug-
eested; that at the. present time no
liability to auxiliary police exists but
authority to pay certain expenses
IN case of injuries in line of duty
does rest in the discretion of the
commissioners" -
Mr.. Keech also recommended
against swearing in the 1855 auxil-
:ary police chosen by Maj. Kelly as
prospects for a special police force
on the ground that under the Black
out Act only residents of the Dis
trict may be special police, that they
would all be given the status of pri-
Yates whereas there are other ranks
in the auxiliary police and that the
section allowing special police ac-
cords them all the powers and all
the duties of regular police, thus
making the Commissioner liable for
injury.
MI. Keech pointed out that in the
amendment to the Blackout Act, the
Commissioners could vest the auxil-
iary police with as few or as many
powers as they saw fit for the ade-
quate protection of life and prop
erty here. 1t was under the amend
ment that he suggested comforting
additional powers on the 1,565 auxil-
iaries whose names Mat Kelly had
submitted.
Definition Being Prepared.
The legal report also revealed that
a committee is now preparing a
definition of Zine of duty" in con-
nection with the payment of medical
expenses for injuries.
ry1l- ~