Evening star., 1948-05-20
Laurel Requests
County 10 Take
PoIicePowers
Commissioners Study
Plan as Step to Uniting
All Town Forces
By ChorIes A. McAIeer

Laurel municipal police force with
six Prince Georges County police
men was under study today by the
county commissioners.
This move, if carried out, coulc
be the first step toward consolida.
ton of all county and local town
police forces of the county under
one central head, according tc
county authorities.
At present, nearly every incorpo-
rated community of the county has
its own police force, while the rest
of the county. including the more
than 80 special improvement taxing
districts, has to depend on the pres
ent 37-man county force.
Uses Similar System.
A similar system of unified COM
mand is in effect in Montgomery
County, where the police force num-
bering ITO men is under the COM
mand of County Police Supt. Charles
M. Orme. Only Takoma Park, Rock
vile and portion Of Chevy Chase
have town policemen.
The Laurel proposal was sub.
mitted to the commissioners during
their ex-officio police commission
session yesterday afternoon at Hy-
attsville. Appearing before the
commissioners was four man
Laurel delegation comprised OF
Mayor Merrill L. Harrison, Town
Attorney Vance v. Vaughn and two
town Councilmen, j. Gilbert White
and W. L. Armstrong, both men,
bers of Councils Police Committee
Under their plan, six new men,
bers would be added to the county
police force, with their salaries to
be paid by the Laurel town treasury
The new policemen, who also would
serve other northern sections of the
county outside the town, would re-
place the existing Laurel force
which numbers only two regular and
five part-time officers.
Three Policemen Resign.
Mayor Harrison told the commits
sioners the towns proposal was the
outgrowth of the resignation of
three Laurel policemen during the
past few weeks. Two of the resig-
nations last Saturday were because
Everybody wanted to be chief" Mr.
Harrison reported. The third, about
two weeks ago, was for other rea-
sons, he said.
Asserting the town police force
has been a headache" to Laurel
officials, Mr.. Harrison said one OF
the big problems has been finding
suitable requirements.
Maj. Ralph w. Brown, county po-
lice superintendent, who sat in on
the discussion, told the town officials
that if the proposal is approved by
the commissioners the town would
have to meet uSahaH way" IA e
/ He recalled that during prohibit
ftion days when county police
planned to "move In" on any places
in Laurel they were told by the
Mayor to clay off" ~
Invited to Stay Out.
Eventually, we were invited 70
stay out of the town." he reminded
the Laurel group.
Mayor Harrison assured him the
town would cooperate all it could
with the county police force.
Norman H. Collins, president OF
the county's police commissioners
said about 40 applications to join
the county force were on hand. The
county force now number 81 men
20 permanent and temporary men,
bers-divided between the Hyatts-
vile and Upper Marlboro stations
Starting pay is 1850 annually, plus
uniform allowances.
! Mayor Harrison said the post OF
Laurel police chief, now held by
Edward S. Brown, would be abolished
if the move is sanctioned. The town
however, still would retain one man
to attend to parking meters, he
added.
The commissioners reported they
would reach a decision by next
Tuesday at which time they will
present a statement, showing ex-
penses involved, to Laurel officials