Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-25
NewDutyWeighed
For Police Reserves
100000 Seen Cost Of Program
To ASSIGN $40 to Street DUTY
BY JERRY O'LEARY, jr.
Star Staff Writer

"A price Tag OF SzUU,UUU mas
been placed on the plan of
Washington police officials to
mobilize $40 members of the
Police Reserve Corps in the
battle against street crime in
Washington.
Deputy Chief Lorraine John
son, administrative officer of
the corps, estimated that uni
forms, equipment and weapons
to prepare the reservists for
patrol duty would cost $297
per man. plus replacement of
worn uniforms.
The corps would, buttress
the existing 2,844-man regu-
lar police force.
He said the corps-which is
40 per cent Negro-iS ready to
put its men on the street as
soon as they can be issued
uniforms, clubs and weapons.
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray already has testified in
favor Of a bill to authorize the
mobilization, now before the
Senate District Committee, the
District Commissioners have
asked the House District Com
mittee to introduce a similar
bill.
Completed Courses
Although there are 1,035
presently on the rolls of the
Reserve Corps. only $40 of
them have met the strict re-
quirements for receiving a
badge. The badge holders are
men who have completed
courses, conducted in every
precinct but the first and the
Harbor precinct in the Re-
serve Corps Instruction Man
ual, first aid and fire-guard
training. They also have passed
character Investigations and
physical examinations and
have demonstrated continuing
interest in police and civil de-
Tense work.
Although the ReserviSts would
be armed, Deputy Chief john
son said they would never be
on the street unless accom-
panied by a regular policeman
and would have no authority
out of the presence of a full
time officer.
The Police Reserve Corps, Or
ganized after the outbreak of
the Korean war, is somewhat
similar now to it's predecessor
of World War II days. the Police
Auxiliary. The auxiliary force
was organized by 1t. John Scott
just before Pearl Harbor and
ballooned into an organization
of 5000 men in 1912 as part
of the framework of the Civil
Defense effort.
The auxiliary force was
equipped with raincoats, blue
overseas caps, visibility belts,
nightsticks, whistles, badges
and arm bands but no fire
arms. Theoretically, the auxili-
airy policemen were not sup
posed to patrol alone but many
Of them did on such assign
ments as defense plant protec-
ton and guarding salvage
dumps.
Arrests Approved
The auxiliary's members were
empowered to make citizens
arrests in case of a felony or
breach Of the peace committed
in their presence.
The Police Auxiliary went out
Of existence on June 80. 1945,
shortly before VJ-Day.
How has the existing Police
Reserve Corps worked out since
it was organized in August,
1850?
Chief Murray, Deputy Chief
johnson and other top officials
agree that the record of the
reservists has been good with
some minor exceptions. One re-
servist has been responsible for
breaking four cases involving
robbery and violence. He is
Norman H. Woodland. As, of
1850 Belmont street NV, SUI
pervisor of the Police Garage
and a private in the reserve.
Pvt. Woodland has been COM
mended officially four times
for his role in solving the same
sort of crimes of violence on
the street that are plaguing
the Nations Capital today.
In March, 1857, he saw two
men yoking another and called
police. as reServists are in