Evening star., 1951-12-01
|P|an 10 Merge
|Town,County
|Po|iceUrged
| Civic Federation Of
| Prince Georges to
| Seek Legislation

Civic Federation Is working on
Legislation for the 1858 General
Assembly to incorporate the coun-
tvs many small town police forces
into one county department.
That was revealed yesterday by
AL Guidotti. chairman of the fed
eration's Police Committee, as the
county commissioners took under
advisement his plea to increase the
size and salary scale of the At
man county police force.
In another piece Of business, the
an-Republican commissioners con-
tinued transferring expired county
insurance policies from Demo-
cratic to Republican agents, with
the awarding Of about 5000, 900
worth Of insurance on two Hyatts-
lville schools.
A $146,754 policy on the Hyatts-
willie (Olive street, Elementary
School was split between State
delegate Albert r.. Hassell and
Edward A. Nylen. president of the
county Young Republican Club.
A $50, 900 policy on the school was
given to Mr.. Hassall last week. but
1.-THE commissioners decided to in
lcrease it to cover the present value
lof the school.
Policy Coverage Jumped.
The policy on the Hyattsville
Junior High School auditorium
and gymnasium was increased
from $4,000 to $163 ,68S. The new
policy was awarded jointly to Al
ton Beall, brother of Sheriff Carl
ton G. Beall. and Walter r. Vol
berg.
On the police question, Mr..
Guidotti asked that salaries be
increased $400 a year for all
grades, raising the beginning
private's wage from the present
$4,000 to $4,000. He also urged
that the force be strengthened to
100 men.
Thomas e. Latimer, board presi-
dent, said an increase In either
the size or salary scale would be
impossible at this time, but that
tthey will be given major consider
ation when the new budget is be-
e ing drawn up.
It Disclosure Of what Mr.. Guidotti
r said was his committees ultimate
n lgoal-that of achieving one, uni
r fled police department for the
whole county-brought a friendly
d warning from County Attorney
e Adrian Fisher that you are play
k ing with a hot potato when you
: try to abolish the county's town
t police forces"
Integration Proposed.
y Mr.. Guidotti pointed out his
group proposes integration rather
than abolition Of the town forces.
Commissioner H. Wilson Spick-
nall said he believes the towns
are saps for providing their own
police forces. The situation Of
splitting the police jurisdiction
between the county and the
towns is not good one. he added.
But as long as there are town
officers, Mr.. Spicknall asserted.
c they should be considered when
discussing the number Of county
officers needed.
With the town and State off,
GERS counted in, he said, Prince
y Georges has about 100 policemen.
I'm per capital police protection, !"
lhe added, Prince Georges ranks
Z, second only to Montgomery
!. County in Maryland"
He termed Mr.. Guidotti's re-
: quest for a 100-man county force
, as "out of the question at this
= time" although he added that all
the commissioners "agree that the
county police department ought
: to be enlarged to some extent"
r Mr.. Guidotti commended the
d work of the police department
e under Chief F. Allen Richards.
e who was appointed by the COM
l. missioners shortly after they took
office a year ago. For the first
: time in a long time" the civic
n leader declared, "our policemen
e are being given a free hand to
+ crack down on law violators."
r Curb Shooting Of Dogs.
In another action the commits
lsioners approved a motion by
Commissioner w. Everett Marion
y linstructing Chief Richards to re-
y quest his men not to shoot any
elinjured. licensed dogs unless au-
lthorized by the Animal Rescue
League, a veterinarian or the
'ldog's owner.
The resolution is the outgrowth
= of the shooting November 3 of a
:. dog belonging to Mrs. Ralph j.
! Shelter. head of the County
Il Animal Rescue League. Sergt. E..
r. Thompson of the Hyattsville
station shot the dog after it had
been struck by car.
r Mrs. Shelter said an autopsy
performed on the dogs body in
9 Baltimore showed the only injury
lit suffered was a dislocated hip.
She added, however, that she be-
. lieves Sergt. Thompson was doing
|. what he thought to be the right
{ thing.
But some of our police officers
; are too quick on the trigger" she
told the commissioners at a con-
ference two weeks ago, land they
are not qualified to say whether
or not dog is seriously injured"
E Capt. Bagdanovieh Heads