Evening star., 1947-10-12
Arlington Heads
Study Possibility
|0f Police Board
Suspension Is Cited;
Action Deferred on
Civil Service Plan

AAC 1A1A1S VII SOu1Aty 0Od40 yCoe
terday acted to investigate the pos
sibllity Of establishing police trial
board, following last weeks dis.
closure that q detective had been
for alleged neglect Of
duty.
On motion of Daniel A. Dugan,
the board authorized Chairman
Basil M. DeLashmutt to appoint
committee to confer with Circuit
Judge Walter T. Mccarthy on the
matter. Under the law, Judge Nc
Carthy appoints members Of the
police force. "
Mr.. Dugan said trial board, or
board Of appeals, could comprise
members appointed by the County
Board and one selected by police
men and firemen. The board could
hear all cases of demotion, suspen-
sion or discharge of policemen and
flremen, he said.
Mr.. DeLashmutt named Mr..
Dugan, County Manager A. T.
Lundberg, Commonwealth's Attor-
ney Lawrence w. Douglas and
himself to the committee and an
nounced the first meeting would be
held in "a very short time" After
meeting with Judge Mccarthy, the
committee will report to the County
Board.
Civil Service Delayed.
Another motion by Mr.. Dugan, to
create a civil service commission
for all other county employees, as
authorized by legislation passed in
1914, was tabled until the next
meeting. Mr.. Dugan, who con-
sented to the tabling, explained that
his object was to get all county
employees, including policemen and
firemen, under a civil service system.
Mr.. Lundberg explained the
county managers Office has been
working on the theory it Is re-
sponsible for the operation Of the
police department, just as it Is
responsible for any other branch
of the county government, even
though the power Of appointing DO
licemen is held only by the Circuit
Court judge.
Mr.. Dugan pointed out that he
had no criticism Of either Mr.. Lund-
berg or Police Chief Harry Wood
yard but that he merely felt 1T Is
only fair that trial board be set
up"
The suspension Tuesday for IS
days OF G. Burns Presley, veteran
county detective and former State
trooper, came to light Thursday
night when Mr.. Dugan said he
would press for establishment Of a
trial board. Although ofiicials would
not elaborate on the circumstances
surrounding Mr.. Pressley's suspen-
sion, it was learned that it grew
out of a numbers raid on a news
stand in Clarendon operated by
former county policeman.
misunderstanding Blamed.
Mr.. Presley, Detective Chief
Hugh c. Jones and two other po-
Hcemen went to the newsstand with
a search warrant. While the search
was in progress, the owner arrived.
No evidence of a violation was
found and Capt. Jones and the
other two policemen left the place
after the detective chief first de-
tailed Mr.. Presley to watch" the
owner, 1t was said. When Capt.
Jones returned the owner had left
and Mr.. Presley said he had not
understood he was to watch him
because he had inferred from Capt.
Jones' remarks that there was no
reason to do so. The owner, it was
said, later contacted police to see
If he was wanted and learned he
was not.
F.. In other actions, the board voted
to withdraw its opposition to
Veterans Administration Hospital on
the Nevius tract, Lee boulevard and
Arlington Ridge road; appropriated
funds to purchase a new county
ambulance and instructed the
county manager to proceed with
plans to ask for State aid next
year for establishing a mental hy-
giene clinic.
The board also referred to the
county manager, for a report on
funds available, a recommendation
Of the Arlington War Memorial
Site Committee that q nine-acre
tract at Lee boulevard and Pershing
drive be purchased. Other appro-
priations included $593 to the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission for the balance of Vir-
ginia's share in the purchase Of
land in Units and 2 of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway;
$400 for work on the codification
Of county ordinances and $4,000 for
construction of frame building at
the courthouse for storage Of police
motorcycles.
Pumping Contract Awarded.
A contract to construct q water
pumping station at Miners Hill was
awarded to Keystone, Grimm q
Sammons who submitted q low bid
OF $l0,993. On recommendation of
Mr.. Lundberg, the board deferred
action until October rs on bids ia
construct q fire testing and training
station and an addition to the court
house.
A request Of the County Public
Utilities Commission that $2,500 be
appropriated to employ q rate
analyst to study gas rates, with q
view toward asking the State Cor
poration Commission to hold a
hearing on a possible reduction, was
referred to the Commonwealth
attorney for legal opinion on the
right Of the board to make the
appropriation.
Appearing for the PUG, Laurence
Knappen said Arlington domestic
consumers pay one-third more for
gas than District consumers and
LAT per cent more than the national
average. He said Arlington gas
rates are "just out OF this world. y
Mr.. Lundberg told the board the
police and fire departments had
been reminded that procedure estab-
hshed for some time regarding dis
patching fire equipment must be
followed. The plan calls for sending
q police scout car to the scene at
the same time the FIRE euuipment il