Evening star., 1944-10-31
B Ex-PoIicerllen,
War Veterans,
Denied Old Jobs
Medical Board Makes
Adverse Report on
Reinstatement
BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG.


Three former members of the
Police Department who have been
from the armed forces
have been waiting months-in one
case, since January-for the District
government to decide whether it will
take them back, it was learned today,
Inspector Harvey G. Callahan said
the Board of Police and Fire Sur
geons had recommended against re-
the men on the force, but
none OF them has been dropped from
the rolls of the department. They
are receiving no pay from the Dis
trict.
Only one Of the three is receiving
compensation from the Veterans
Administration. That veteran, ac-
cording to Inspector Callahan, Ia
getting $50 a month pension.
Must Be Physically Fit.
Inspector Callahan referred the
reporter to the Corporation Coun-
sells ONCE and the Commissioners,
but spokesmen for both said they
didn't know the details of the cases,
that the law says the men cannot
be restored to duty unless they are
physically fit and that the Commits
sioners are willing and anxious" to
find other positions in the District
government for those who cannot
perform their former Jobs.
None OF the men, according to In
spector Callahan, has been offered
another position. One Of them, he
said he understood, Is now driving
q taxicab.
One police ofiicial said he under
stood one fireman with the same dis
ability and the same pension as ons
OF the three former policemen had
been restored to duty with the Fire
Department, while the policeman
could not get back on the police
force. The Fire Department con-
nrmed that the former employe had
been reinstated "after being ex.
amined couple of times"
Inspector Callahan pointed out
that If veterans with disabilities
were returned to duty. the District
would have to give them retirement
pay If their injuries subsequently,
resulted in their having to leave ths
force.
Inspector Callahan said that In
one Of the three cases, the former
policeman is caught in a squeeze
where the Army Air Forces and the
Police Department both disclairp
responsibility for the mans dis
ability. AS result, after eight
years on the police force and nearly
two years in the AAF,, during which
he became a lieutenant, the man
isn't getting disability pay from
the Veterans Administration nor
retirement pay from the Police De-
partment.
He has been pronounced unfit for
return to police duty.
Inspector Callahan explained that
until October 13, the only way
policemen could be separated from
the force was by death, resignation.
retirement and dismissal after trial
board action. On October 13, heads
of District departments were In.
structed that where veterans were
physically unfit to take up their
old duties they could be cited to
the trial board for inef1iciency as a
result of their physical disability
and dismissed without prejudice"
or given the privilege or resigning,
Problem viii Increase.
Budget Oficer Walter D. Fowler.
head of the District Agency Conn
mittee which was recently in
structed by the Commissioners to
find other District jobs for former
employees among the veterans who
cannot take on their old duties,
said he could forsee this problem
becoming increasingly serious, par.
ticularly in the Police and Fire
Departments where the men must
meet specific physical standards.
Mr.. Fowler said his COMMITTEES
would meet tomorrow TO discuss ths
situation. On the committee ars
Corporation Counsel Richard B.
Keech, Inspector Callahan, Col
Joseph D. Arthur. jr., assistant
to the Engineer Commissioner. and
G. M. Thornett, secretary to thu
Board of Commissioners.
So far. the Fire Department has
reinstated four veterans. The Police
Department has reinstated three.
two others resigned and the three
veterans who can't meet the STAN
dards Of the department are listed
as pending cases."
Unemployment committeeman of
District Selective Service, it was
understood, are working on two of
the three police cases.
OF f1ve other cases brought to the
unemployment committeeman and
the veterans assistance division of
District Selective Service, four were
settled after the provisions of the
draft law were pointed out to the
employers. District draft spokes-
man said. The fifth, involving a
mans right to back pay because Of
delay In reinstatement, is pending.