Evening star., 1952-01-19
Town Officials
|Hit Plan 10
Drop Police
Prince Georges Purley
Comedies County's
Force Undermunned

rated towns and cities II Prince
Georges Countys suburban area
are unanimous in their opposition
TO any proposal to eliminate their
municipal police forces.
! At the same time, they agree
that the county police force Is
badly undermanned.
The question Of incorporating
town police into the county force
was brought up last night at a
meeting of the town officials with
members Of the county's delega-
ton to the Maryland General AS
sembly.
Mayor Herbert w. Reiclaelt Of
Mount Rainier told the group
various civic organizations have
appointed committees to investi-
gate the feasibility of such q plan.
I'VE talked 1t over with them
and came to the conclusion Mount
Rainier wants to keep its town
police force" he asserted.
Support From Others.
Quick support of his stand came
frem officials Of other towns, in
cluding Mayors James L. Russell
OF Brentwood, Merrill Harrison
OF Laurel, r. J. Lastner of Green
belt. Jesse Baggett of Hyattsville
and E. A. Saloon of Cheverly.
Mayor Russell said a major fac
tor against merging the two po-
lice forces is the lack of authority
by county police to enforce town
He added town residents are
accustomed to calling their own
policemen to answer minor COM
plants. for which they would be
hesitant to call county police.
Its important psychologically
for us to have our own police
force" he declared.
Criticism of the county force,
was voiced by Mayor Baggett, who
said it is top heavy with sergeants
and lieutenants. :
The county has all chiefs and
no indians" he said, "and there
aren't enough men to go around.!'
Weigh Expense.
Mayors Of other towns also said
the county force is inadequate.
But they contended the expense
involved in sharply increasing the
number of county policemen
would far outstrip any saving to
the taxpayers which, might re-
suit from eliminating the town
policemen.
MIR. Saloon asked for legisla-
tion to give town policemen au-
thority outside their municipali-
ties in case they are called to
assist county police. Delegate
Perry o. Wilkinson recalled, how
ever, that such. a bill was intro
duced at previous session of the
Legislature and was ruled uncon-,
stitutional by the Attorney Gem
eraI.
FRANK Kline, chairman Of the
Bowie Board of Commissioners.
that a solution to the
problem would be to have all town
policemen sworn in as county
deputy sheriffs.
Mayor Reichelt also asked the
legislative delegation to oppose
any change In the Sherbow law
which would divert funds from
the municipalities.
Quicker Funds Asked.
And Mayor Lastner asked for
legislation to speed up the dis.
tribution Of Sherbow funds to thu
towns by the county treasurer,s
Office. In this respect, Greenbelt
City Manager Charles T. McDon-
aid said:
i see no reason why automobile
license receipts can't be given the
towns directly. Sometimes, this
sits in the treasurer's Of
flee more than a year before it
goes to the towns"
Delegate Leroy Humphrey prom
ised to investigate. He said he
would ask the county treasurer to
recommend measures to eliminate
such delays.
The group also discussed the
problem Of how to control stray
dogs but arrived at no solution.
During the discussions Mr.. Pum-
phrey commented:
"Everytime we try to pass q
dog law, we get knocked on the
head"