Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-08
Rockville Urges
Reinstatement
|0fChief0rme
Mayor, Council Say
Morale of Police Is

The mayor and town council Of
Rockville asserted today that sus-.
pension of Montgomery County
Police Chief Charles M. Orme
has impaired the police depart
ment morale, and asked that no
be restored to duty.
The Rockville councils action
will be forwarded to the Mont
gomery County Council for con-
sideration tomorrow, when a re-
quest of the Montgomery County
Police Association for reinstate-
ment of Chief Orme is also to be
considered.
In requesting reinstatement OF
Chief Orme, the Rockville Coun-
Gil asked that the County Council
define his powers and policies so
that he may function without
duress. 1t is felt that the
morale of the police department
has been impaired by placing
each member in state of duress."
Suspended After Criticism.
Chief Orme was suspended by
County Manager Irving McNayr
Friday after the police chief pub
licly criticized a one-man patrol
car system ordered by Mr.. McNayr
with approval of the County
Council. Mr.. McNayr said Chief
Orme's criticism of the system
was INSTRUMENTATION, and that he
would ask the council at tomor-
rows meeting to remove" Chief
Orme permanently.
The policemen last night rallied
to their suspended chiefs support.
and unanimously adopted reso-
luton asking his reinstatement.
A copy of the policemen's reso-
luton is to be sent the county
council Office at Rockville today,
and Mr.. McNayr said anything
pertaining to the police chiefs
suspension received before tomor-
rows council meeting will be con-
Sidered.
Excellent Protection Seen.
In their resolution, the police
men said they supported "all rea-
sons set forth in The Washington
Star newspaper Thursday, August
4, by Chief Orme" criticizing the
one-man patrol system in Mont
gomery County.
THE citizens and their prop
erty have been given excellent
protection under the system which
has been used in the past, and
the association feels that the po-
lice department which is respon-
sible for the protection of the lives
and property in the country's No.
l ranking county should not be
experimental with" the resolu-
ton states.
Two men were assigned to
patrol cars before it was decided
to try the one-man patrols start
ing last Monday.
"Since every section of the
country has individual problems
which require individual police
methods. the association feels
that any drastic changes in oper-
ating methods such as the one
man car patrol should not be put
into effect unless approved by
the chief of police and his staff.
who have had years of experience
in successfully policing Montgom-
cry County," the resolution con-
tinues.
Ask End of Suspension.
The policemen concluded their
resolution with an urgent" re-
quest that Chief Orme's suspen-
sion be lifted, and he be restored
to duty.
Mr.. McNayr said he would list
other reasons tomorrow, besides
the patrol-system dispute for re-
lieving Chief Orme of duty. He
would not elaborate.
In addition to the police asso-
citation, Chief Orme already has
won support of the Montgomery
County Press Association which
asked that he be restored to duty.
A special meeting of the Allied
Civic group of Silver Spring, COM
posed of delegates from % civic
organizations, has been called for
8 o'clock tonight at the dispen-
sary building to consider the mat
ter. Any action the civic group
takes may also be considered at
tomorrow's council meeting.
The county managers Office said :,
the controversy will be aired dur
ing the public portion of the meet
ing, which begins at 2 pm.
Chief Orme has expressed con-
fidence that he will be "vindi-
Gated" at tomorrow's meeting.
Since his suspension. Inspector
James McAuliffe has been acting
chief.
Hearing on Julian Will
Il -