your Commissioner of Public Safety, and others, they have not found any suitable way to get with the courts on the question of punishment and the separation of powers.

It might well be that a Commissioner who has a closer affiliation with the Congress may be able to get a little closer to some of these judges whose salaries are fixed by the Congress. I do not follow your argument there.

Mr. FLETCHER. I would think, sir, that Congress' actions on that would be the same whether you had the Police Department under the Commissioner or you had it under a separate Commissioner. The Congress' actions relative to courts would be the same.

Mr. WHITENER. I think if you stay around here a while you might change your mind about that. How would it cause confusion and conflict in the Welfare Program?

Mr. FLETCHER. Here again, sir, we feel that the fighting of crime is a product of many activities in many agencies. Some of the base causes of crime are in fact unemployment, deprivation, and so on. We feel a coordinated effort to give people a decent income and a decent home and so on is one of the best ways to fight crime. We feel this is again a coordinative effort that should be under one control rather than separate controls.

Mr. WHITENER. Your second objection, that it would result in a major reversal in the trend of citizens' participation and involvement in District Government and affairs: You mean it might cause a reversal of an organization which had among its membership the Vice Chairman of the Council, passing resolutions that it is justifiable homicide to shoot a police officer in cold blood; is that what it will reverse?

Mr. FLETCHER. No, sir. I think whether either action is taken, it would have an effect on that. I do believe, however, that the Commissioner of the District of Columbia is directly involved with citizen participation. It is one of the reasons, I think, for the reorganization, to provide a more direct channel of communication with the citizens of the District and the Government of the District of Columbia. We are constantly working on citizen participation. Many of those contacts deal with police problems, as well as housing, welfare and other problems. It would seem to us it would be better to have a citizen participation under one control rather than a split control.

Mr. WHITENER. You think it might reverse the trend of certain elements in certain sections of the city demanding that they make the decision as to which police officers will be assigned to their precincts. Is that the sort of thing you apprehend it might reverse?

Mr. FLETCHER. I think it would provide, which is what the Commissioner is striving for, better police-community relations. It is also something that Chief Layton is striving for. We need good community relations as well as community relations in all other facets of the District Government. We much work closely with the people of the District. The manner in which it is done is one we have to resolve with the district and the people of the District.

Mr. WHITENER. Mr. Chairman, I do not want to take too much time. Maybe later I can ask other questions.

The CHAIRMAN. On that subject, don't you think these people ought to be taught to work with the Congress a little and not just with the

citizens of the District of Columbia? As I have stated on numerous occasions, I do not think there is any reason to have this ten square miles here set out unless it is to protect the Government.

Mr. FLETCHER. I would agree, sir, that the District Government is directly related to Congress. Obviously I think we should be available for whatever you wish as far as the District Government is concerned. That is what we strive to do. I think you should look to just us for the services.

The CHAIRMAN. I, as Chairman of this committee, have written several letters down there three months ago and have not received an

answer.

Mr. FLETCHER. I am not familiar with what it is, sir, but I will be glad to check that out. If we are not providing to the Congress the services you need, we will correct it and provide the service you asked

for.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Zwach.

CIVIL DISTURBANCES AND THE POLICE

Mr. ZwACH. Mr. Chairman, I am inclined to not agree with this bill because I came to this committee hoping to do more toward selfdetermination in the city itself. But something you say rather intrigues me, Mr. Fletcher. You say that you have demonstrated your ability to do a good job with the police. Do you think you can document this?

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes, sir, I think so. I think the actions as far as the District Government is concerned with the Poor People's Campaign in the month of May and June I think we handled a difficult, dangerous and tense situation very well. I think the fact that was handled by the District of Columbia Government primarily in coordination with other Federal agencies in my opinion demonstrates it can be done effectively.

Mr. ZWACH. This is post-April you are speaking now?

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes.

Mr. ZwACH. You think post-April you have been improving?

Mr. FLETCHER. We learned lessons in the April disturbance. We never had such a thing happen in the District of Columbia before. It is important, I think, that we learn from our experience the first time and not the second time. I think we learned those lessons adequately, and I think we put into effect controls and procedures and systems necessary to take care of dangerous situations. I think we adequately displayed that to the people of the District and to Congress.

Mr. ZWACH. There are two other things that cannot help but disturb me. First of all, a member of the Council making statements as he does; then your School Board hiring a superintendent and wanting to fire him six months later; these things are most disturbing. I would like to ask you this: You say you are stabilizing the police force. This would be most encouraging. Could you elaborate on this?

Mr. FLETCHER. I am not sure I used the term "stabilizing."
Mr. ZWACH. Your resignations are fewer.

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes, sir.

Mr. ZWACH. Are you in a position to document this for us this morning?

97-945-68- -3

Mr. FLETCHER. Chief Layton, I believe, has the figures or can recall them quite well.

(Subsequently, the following information was submitted for the

record :)

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT,

July 10, 1968.

Mr. JAMES T. CLARK,

Clerk House District Committee,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CLARK: Pursuant to your request by telephone, made to Lieutenant William F. Sturgeon, Jr., Personnel Division, on July 9, 1968, the attached information relative to the number of separations and the number of appointments insofar as the Metropolitan Police Force is concerned for the Fiscal Year 1968, is forwarded.

You also requested information regarding our Police Cadet Program. The Police Cadet Program was initiated in March of 1965. This Program is for young men from seventeen and a half to twenty-one years of age. Upon reaching twentyone years of age, they are sworn in as Police Officers. In March of 1965, the Department was authorized twenty-five Police Cadets. In November of 1966, the Department was authorized thirty-five; and in November of 1967, an additional twenty-five. This brings our present authorized strength to one hundred and six. At the present time, we have one hundred Police Cadets in operation; six on Military Leave; and nineteen have been appointed as Metropolitan Police Officers. Trusting this information will be helpful to you, I am,

Sincerely yours,

JOHN B. LAYTON,

July..

August.

September..

October.

November.

December..

Chief of Police.

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

January

February.

March

April.

May.

June.

12

299756

947

19

4

12

12

11

10

12621O

1

1}

25

10

15

13

505346

12,739 2,725

2,725

2,719

2,725

2,735

Note: The total authorized strength during the above period (fiscal year 1968) was 3,100.

Mr. FLETCHER. As I remember the figures that were used on Saturday morning, I believe there has been a substantial reduction in the number of resignations compared to a year ago in the Department. There has been almost a 50 percent reduction in the number of policemen going to other sister agencies, again comparing one year to the latest year.

The fact that we are rapidly eliminating the vacancies which for years in the District have been well over two and three hundred-we are down to 82 vacancies as of last week. We have, I believe, almost 40 ready for appointment and over 200 in the pipeline being processed for appointment. This indicates that we are up to full strength.

Our predecessors were not able to do that. I think these are all indications of a strong Department, and a good Department, and a Department with good morale.

Mr. ZWACH. Are your police applicants being processed in proportion to the White and black population? Are you bringing on more black policemen so that you are strengthening this area?

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes, sir. I believe the latest recruitment figures indicate that the appointments made in the last several months have been approximately fifty-fifty, white and Negro, compared to a present average of 20 percent Negro and 80 percent white.

The CHAIRMAN. I would like to ask why does it make any difference what color the applicant is, if he is a good man and can pass all the examinations?

Mr. FLETCHER. Sir, I was not asked that question. If I were asked that question, I would say I would recruit good policemen.

Mr. ZwACH. Mr. Chairman, I asked that question because I think it is important in the District that there be some proportion with regard to the population. I would like to have a little more elaboration on it. The CHAIRMAN. Remember, this is an agency that does not just represent the District of Columbia, it represents the whole United States. If we would want to go by rules and regulations and use quotas, we would have ten percent colored police and employees here in this Federal city.

Mr. ZWACH. These are policemen for the District. We know the reality of the city itself. So my question dealt in this area.

The CHAIRMAN. The taxpayers of the whole United States are helping to pay for this police force.

Mr. ZWACH. That is right. I am fully aware of that.

Mr. FLETCHER. The Chief advised me he does not have the latest figure for the last several months but over the last period of time in recruitment we were recruiting a third Negro to two-thirds white. I do believe in the last several months it has been running close to fiftyfifty.

I believe our job is to recruit good policemen.

Mr. ZWACH. I think at all times we have to face the reality of the District. I would like to say that I live in the heart of D.C., and I have been observing the police. I think they have been good. Wherever they went, they went fast, efficiently. I have been impressed in the main with the operations of the Police Department.

I was very, very depressed in April but since then, I have noticed an improvement. Do you think this bill will destroy your direct line of authority to have someone over the head of them?

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes.

Mr. ZWACH. Who would be responsible with regard to a riot breaking out, would it be this new Commissioner or would it be the Safety Director, or would it be Chief Layton?

This concerns me when we need a quick and rapid determination.

Mr. FLETCHER. In terms of the riot it seems to me there should be one point of command and control. One of the lessons we learned in the April disturbance was the need for centralized authority and decision-making involving all of the forces available to us. That was done since the April riot. We have set up the mechanism necessary to provide that centralized control. One of the essential ingredients obviously is the Police Department. I believe Chief Layton can indicate to you that we provided good centralized control and decision-making involving all of the forces of the District of Columbia during times of stress.

Mr. ZWACH. Do you say that in April you were caught unprepared and were surprised?

Mr. FLETCHER. Yes, sir, we were. It had been our intention to provide a system of centralized administration authority. The plan was being developed. None of us anticipated that there would be a problem in the first part of April. We were anticipating the problem would develop in the later part of the year or the summer. It caught us unprepared in many respects. I think we did, in my opinion, a fairly good job during that period with the limitations that we had around us. Again I point out that we learned lessons at that time and I think we have corrected the problems and now can provide the kind of centralized administration this District and the people of this District need.

Mr. ZWACH. That is all.

Mr. Downy. If the gentleman would yield, I would like to know what limitations, and who put them on the police?

Mr. FLETCHER. Not legal limitations, Mr. Congressman, administrative limitations, lack of experience, in having a similar circumstance within the District. We did not have good communciation setups, we did not have good lines of communication open. That has been corrected. So the limitation is administrative and not a legal limitation at all. We just simply were not yet ready for that situation to do the best job. I think we did a reasonably good job under the circumstances. We can do a far better job now, and I think we have demonstrated the fact we can.

Mr. DowDY. Thank you.

Mr. ZWACH. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Sisk.

Mr. SISK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

OBJECTIVES OF POLICE IN THIS FEDERAL CITY

I appreciate very much the Deputy Mayor being with us this morning, and I appreciate your comments. I would like to talk to you for just a few minutes about this whole business of priorities. Let me say I am not taking a position for or against this particular piece of legislation, but generally want to discuss the business of police protection and what the basic objectives are of police power as it is exercised in the District. I think there is increasing concern on the part of Members of Congress as well as people all across the country about the degree of protection for our Nation's Capital as well as the people in the Nation's Capital.