Evening star., 1953-04-08
Wants
ArI1lory 10 Pay
Police Details
Toxpoyers Now Foot
Bill for Privute
Exhibits, Shows
Eight policemen attended a

Eight policemen attended A.. a
fraternity dance at the National
Guard Armory the other night.
They weren't invited guests
but were there at the expense of
taxpayers obliged to pick up the
tab for their services of direct
ing traffic and handling the
crowd.
During April, citizens will foot
the police freight for five other
privately sponsored events at the
Armory to which admission is
charged.
And during the year the drain
on already sorely pressed police
strength will be repeated many
times-an enigmatic situation
which Police Chief Robert v.
Murray would like to have cor
rected.
6,799 Hours in Year.
Chief Murray is aware that
nonmilitary promotions at the
Armory sapped the Metropolitan
force of 1925 men detailed there
for a total of 6,799 hours last
fiscal year. These men were di-
verted from regular duty to han
die the privately sponsored Arm
ory shows.
And at Constitution Hall, 304
policemen detailed during the
same period put in a total of 942
hours. This, too, was charged up
to the taxpayer.
Policemen worked similar
tricks at Griffith Stadium, Turn
er's Arena and Uline Arena, but
with this difference: Under reg
ulations covering licensed arnuse-
ment places, the District got $1.45
per hour each police private la
bored there.
The police paid by the stadium
and the arenas are stationed on
the premises and in traffic con-
troll posts in the immediate
vicinity" Of the various locations.
$11,224 Donation.
AT the rate Of $1.45 an hour,
the District Government donated
$9.858.55 worth of police assist
ance for the Armory's private
parties last fiscal year. Adding
the $1,365.90 free work at Con-
stitution Hall gives a total of
$11.224.45.
Above. that, many hours are
lost by policemen going and
coming from the Armory and
hall via streetcar or any other
transportation they can find.
The District Armory Board,
managing agency for the
Armory. seems to provide care
fully for everything but pay for
police.
The Star learned this yester-
day when an inquiry to an as
sistant manager revealed these
terms:
For $1,000 a day, the vast
hall is yours, but if you want it
for less than a day, it still costs
1000.
Most striking is an item call
ing for the pay at $1.75 an hour
for six building guards, at a
four-hour minimum cost. But
no provision for policemen, at
$1.45 an hour.
1,453 Hours on Auto Show.
Records for the past fiscal
year show that police were used
at the Armory every month but
in June and August. The big
crush came during the February
auto show, when 241 policemen
worked 1.543 hours.
Chief Murray has his own idea
about solving this problem. He
belives a central fund should be
set up from charges for police
services at all licensed places
and the Armory and Constitution
Hall as well.
Then the Police Department
should compile a list of all po-
licemen who wish to earn extra
money by working during their
off-duty hours at the amusement
places. They would receive the
full amount taxed the promoters.
This not only would give will
ing policemen an added source
Of income, but would end the
practice of detailing policemen
badly needed on regular assign
mentS, Chief Murray says.
Under present plans, payment
for police services at the ball
park and other licensed amuse-
ment places goes into a District
Government fund.