Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-25

NORMAN H. WOODLAND
Helped Solve Cases
structed to do, resulting in their
capture. In June, 1857. he saw
a man stealing clothing from
parked car and called in Off
GERS to make the arrest.
In November, 1857. he saw a
man attack a woman on the
street but this time he jumped
the assailant and forced him
to flee. Later, police arrested
the man on the description Pvt.
Woodland gave them.
On September, 1858, he saw
two men tampering with a car
and gave the alarm, and the
men were captured.
On the debit side, Deputy
Chief johnson said, have been
the rare cases where Reserve
Corps men have used their
badges improperly or assumed
authority not given to them
under existing law.
One reservist, he recalled,
became embroiled in a traffic
argument in Washington,
chased the other motorist over
into Virginia and attempted to
arrest him on the strength of
his reserve corps badge. The
other man, an Army officer,
complained and the reservist
was dropped from the program
after an investigation.
But, in general, according
to Capt. Earl Noble, Civil De-
tense liaison officer, the con-
duct Of the reservistS has been
exemplary.
He cited the fourteenth pre-
'cinct, which with the ninth and
eleventh precincts has the most
active and sizable force of re-
servists in Washington.
The ranking reservist in the
fourteenth precinct, a predomi-
nately Negro area Of Northeast
w a S h ng ton, Is Roland S.
Fletcher, 48, of SAG Forty
eighth place Sc, holds the
highest rank in the reserve as
q lieutenant.
Training Ruled Essential
He and his men meet every
week with Pvt. Benton B. Roger,
the fourteenth precinct reserve
co-ordinator, for training and
classroom work. Many of them
own their own uniforms, similar
to the blue attire of the regular
force.
Although officially they are
not supposed to patrol the
streets. Reserve Corps members
frequently do so unofficially.
Many reServists also have
pitched in to help with clerical
work at precinct stationhouses,
watch fire alarm boxes or Hal
loween, protect property at the
scenes of fires, and control
crowds at church and civic
events.
They also conducted a survey
Of potential air raid shelters
here for civil defense.
The officials were asked If
there were any reservations
on the proposal to equip the
reservists with pistols. Some
policemen of lower rank have
said they would not wish to
work with partly trained re-
servists equipped with guns on
the grounds that they might
prove "trigger-happy."
Deputy Chief johnson said
the reserviSts turn out every
Sunday from 7 to 10 am. at
the District Armory range for
pistol shooting, using .22-cali-
Der weapons on a .38-caliber
frame. The police force pro-
vides the pistols and the am
munition, and competent per-
sonnet are on hand to teach
accuracy and insure safety. Re-
Gently the reservists had their
own shooting competition and
proved to be excellent marks
men, officials said.
They receive training but
no pay under present law and
are not compensated if they
get hurt while on duty. The
existing law merely qualities
them for appointment as spe-
cial police officers during any
emergency, riot. pestilence. in
vasion or insurrection. or pub
lie ceremony, celebration or
election, or when there is a
state of war.
To join the Reserve Corps, a
man or woman fills out an ap-
plication in the precinct where
he or she lives or works. Males
must be not less than 81 inches
tall and between the ages Of 81
and IS. Women must be not
less than so inches tall and
between the ages of 81 and Sc.
If applicants are otherwise
eligible, they must swear and
sign an oath of allegiance and
an oath that they do not adj
vocate, or belong to an organi-
cation that advocates, the over
throw of the United States.
Having passed these hurdles.
the reservists are sworn in and
begin training under their pre-
cinct co-ordinator. The badges.
however, have to be earned.