Evening star., 1948-07-01
Inadequate Park Petrol


Bardwell in Rock Creek Park would have
occurred regardless of the size of the
Park Police force But the fact remains
that this huge, popular recreation area is
inadequately policed. Sexual perVerts
undoubtedly are aware of this fact Ana
nobody is more acutely aware OF it-and
worried about it-than the Park Ponce
themselves
So concerned was the Office of National
CAPITAL Parks over the situation that IL
submitted to the Budget Bureau an urgent
request for twelve additional men and Tor
motorized equipment for Rock Creek Park
alone. A total of fifty-six additional men
was sought to reinforce patrols in all the
parks Three new radio cruisers and four
motorcycles were requested. In memo
randum the Office called particular atten-
ton to the need for extra precautions IN
Rock Creek Park citing the fact that
many women and girls frequent the PARK
and are entitled to protection from
would-be molesters.
But the economy minded Budget Bureau
slashed the request to seven men, all tolo.
And Congress disapproved even this hand
full of men, Nor were any additional cars
or motorcycles granted. The result was
that plans of the Park Police for organ
izing four regular patrol beats in ROCK
Creek Park have had to be abandoned.
At the time of the BardWell child's Staying
this 1,7OO-acre Federal playground was
patrolled daily by only one radio car,
manned by two officers, and, for six days
out of seven, by one mounted poilceman
Park Superintendent Root says that with
the present thinly spread force OF lib
officers and men (of which only ninety
two are available for duty inside the
District, 1t is impossible to assign more
men to Rock Creek Park. The ninety-two
men must cover more than 5000 acres OF
park property.
It Is a sad fact that it often takes a
tragedy like the Bardwell outrage to
arouse public opinion sufficiently to de-
mand better law enforcement. Certainly
the Park Police would be justified in citing
this case in support of renewed request
next year for the men and machines
needed to give proper police protection
to park users. A recurrent proposal in the
past for accomplishing this better protec-
ton was to consolidate the Park Police
with the Metropolitan department. 1t was
pointed out that one large force would
have more flexibility in meeting emergency
conditions in the parks or elsewhere. Con-
gress approved legislation to effect such
a merger, but it was vetoed.
Since the Government has failed to
consolidate the forces or to provide the
Park Police with sufficient men for it's
work. an interim expedient might be to
arrange a voluntary Joint patrol system.
Under such an arrangement Metropolitan
Police radio cars would extend their pa
trolls regularly into the parks, especially
during the warm season. The presence of
more policemen in the parks would tend
to discourage loiterers bent on crime or
mischief and hence would be a real
deterrent to premeditated sex or other
offenses.
Certainly the Park and Metropolitan
Police should satisfy the public that every
feasible step has been taken, with avail
able facilities, to make the parks safer
for the thousands of children and adults
who want to enjoy them this summer