The subcommittee's hearings have been closed to the public and the press. Chairman Thompson said yesterday his subcommittee would consider on Wednesday whether to make the hearings open. OPEN LETTER DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POLICE WIVES ASSOCIATION, INC., Chief of Police JOHN B. LAYTON, DEAR CHIEF LAYTON: On behalf of every member of the District of Columbia Police Wives Association we want you to know you have our unanimous and whole hearted support in your difficult post as the head of one of the most outstanding police departments in the nation. We know that this is the feeling of the 4300 members of the Policeman's Association of the District of Columbia. As recently as July 3, 1968, President Johnson said "Washington's Policemen are among the Nation's finest. In the critical hours of unrest and violence which gripped the city they performed most difficult missions . . . the backbone of law enforcement in each of our communities is the policeman on the beat. In no city of America is this more true than in the District of Columbia." Mayor Walter E. Washington and Public Safety Director Patrick V. Murphy, have been unstinting in the praise of the Metropolitan Police Department and your leadership of it. The Metropolitan Police Department is one of the finest in the nation. It has been unmarked by the scandals which have racked the police departments in other cities. This is to your credit. You have broken new ground in race relations. 10 years ago 10 percent of the police force were Negroes. Today the figure is 23 percent. Police Captains Owen Davis, Robert N. Hough have been made Inspectors, the first time that Negroes have been given this high rank. Acting Captain Herbert S. Taylor, a Negro has been appointed head of the community relations division and will shortly be given the permanent rank of captain in the police force. Police Captain Tilmon B. O'Bryant was raised from the rank of Detective and made head of the 13th police precinct. In the face of the brilliant leadership you have given the Metropolitan Police Department, the attacks upon you by the members of the Democratic Central Committee of the District of Columbia, elected May 7, 1968, have reached incdedible heights, culminating in (one) the resolution written by the Reverend Channing E. Phillips, that the killing of white policemen is "justifiable homicide" and (two) the call by Bruce Terris, the chairman of the District of Columbia Democratic Central Committee yesterday for your dismissal. We are astounded that at no time has Bruce Terris and the Reverend Channing Phillips praised you or mentioned one word about your leadership of the finest police force in the nation. The Negro Community as well as the White community did not vote the members of the Democratic Central Committee into office on May 7, 1968 to wage a campaign of harassment, intimidation and hysteria against the Metropolitan Police Department of which our husbands are members. The D.C. Police Wives Association hereby publicly announces that we will raise with the credential and platform committees at the Democratic National Convention, basic questions regarding the qualifications of the members of the Democratic Central Committee and their campaign of harassment, intimidation, and hysteria against the Metropolitan Police Department and you personally. President Johnson, Vice President Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and the Democratic party have always stood for law and order, and for support of the police. On October 22, 1967, the Communist Party, U.S.A., issued a position paper which laid down the line that Negroes should "police their own communities." As reported in the New York Times from the Daily Worker, the position of the Communist Party was "we support the demand that black people police their own community . . . there can be no question of the right of black people in the United States to use violence to achieve change." (see Letters column, Sunday Star, July 28, 1968). There is a startling similarity between the position of the Communist Party and the positions which have been adopted by the Democratic Central Committee under the Reverend Channing E. Phillips, D.C. Democratic National Committeeman and Bruce Terris chairman of the D.C. Democratic Central Committee. We believe the Democratic convention must answer this question, "Is it 'justifiable homicide' to kill white policemen?" Respectfully, Mrs. JOAN ABBOTT, President. CC: President Johnson, Vice President Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy, Members of the Congress, Senate District Committee, House District Committee, Mayor Walter E. Washington, Public Safety Director Patrick V. Murphy, Honorable John W. Hechinger, D.C. City Council, Honorable William S. Thompson, Chairman subcommitte-on police community relations, Honorable John M. Bailey, Chairman Democratic National Committee, Press, radio, T.V. PLEDGE OF SUPPORT TO CHIEF LAYTON Hon. JOHN B. LAYTON, AUGUST 2, 1968. DEAR SIR: We, the undersigned, protest the intemperate demand of Bruce Terris, Chairman, Democratic Central Committee, that you resign. We hereby pledge you our wholehearted and enthusiastic support for your continued leadership as head of the finest police department in the nation. On July 3, 1968, President Johnson said, "Washington's policemen are among the Nation's finest. In the critical hours of unrest and violence which gripped the city, they performed most difficult missions. The backbone of law enforcement in each of our communities is the policeman on the beat. In no city in America is this more true than in the District of Columbia." You are nationally and internationally recognized as the head of one of the finest police forces in the world—unstained by scandal and special privileges. During your years as our Police Chief, negro police officers have been given new opportunities. They have been raised to rank of Inspector for the first time and have been made Captains of police precincts. The number of negro police has increased from 10% to 23%. Bruce Terris and the Rev. Channing E. Phillips have said, “It is justifiable homicide to kill white policemen." Under their leadership the District of Columbia Democratic Central Committee has taken the same position of the Communist Party, U.S.A., which, as reported in the Letters Column of the Sunday Star Newspaper of July 28, 1968, declared on October 22, 1967. "We support the demand that black people police their own community. There can be no question of the right of black people in the U.S. to use violence to achieve change." We will make every attempt to bring these issues to the attention of the American people and the delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago who must answer the question, "Is it justifiable homicide to kill white policemen?" Sincerely yours, (Signed by) Nicholas B. Addams (by permission), Chairman of Citizens Advisory Council, Precinct No. 3; Ethel W. Loveless, (Past Chairman of Citizens Advisory Council), Chairman of Executive Board, Citizens Advisory Counci Precinct No. 3; Catherine H. McCarron, President (by permission), Dupont Circle Citizens Association; and 93 individual petitioners. [Article in the Washington Post, July 6, 1968] SLAYING OF POLICE DEFENDED BLACK UNITED FRONT CALLS IT JUSTIFIABLE (By Leon Dash) The Black United Front issued a statement yesterday describing the slaying of a District policeman Tuesday night as a "justifiable homicide." The statement said, in part: "The methods of self defense used by the family charged with the alleged slaying of the honky cop is justifiable homicide in the same sense that police are allowed to kill black people and call it justifiable homicide." Several hours later, Mayor Walter E. Washington asserted that "the BUF resolution with respect to the slaying of Officer (Stephen A.) Williams . . . is inflammatory, irresponsible and unfortunate." "If this community is to thrive and prosper, it must do so within the framework of law," the Mayor said in a brief statement. "As citizens, we must continue to work together-black and white, policeman and civilian-so that law and order, with justice, will be the code for all." The Mayor declined to elaborate on the statement, which was issued after a two-hour meeting with his principal aides. Director of Public Safety Patrick V. Murphy called the Black United Front's resolution "very dangerous" and "not well-founded" in a statement recorded by WTOP-TV last night. He said the resolution could not "help but be inflammatory," and he said he did not think that it spoke for "any significant number" of citizens. Murphy asserted that Police Department evidence suggests nothing like justifiable homicide and that anybody with different evidence has a responsibility to come forward. "I think it's tragic that such a statement should be made concerning a policeman who has given his life protecting other citizens," Murphy added. The BUF statement was adopted unanimously Wednesday night by "about 450" persons at a meeting at Douglas Memorial Church, 11th and E Streets ne., according to Charles Jones, a co-chairman of the Front. The BUF was formed last January as a civil rights coalition of moderates and militants by Stokely Carmichael, now its other co-chairman. Williams, 22, and his partner, Pvt. Frederick L. Matteson, 38, who was critically wounded, were shot in a struggle with a robbery suspect, the latter's son and the suspect's wife. Both officers were shot with their own revolvers in the 1300 block of Columbia Road nw. about 8 p.m. after attempting to arrest Johnnie White, 38. White, his son Dwayne, 19, and his wife, Ethel R. White, have all been charged with homicide. The Rev. Channing Phillips, the Democratic National Committeeman from Washington and a member of the board of the BUF, was asked whether he approved of the Front's statement. "Well, I was there and the vote was unanimous," Mr. Phillips said. "Both the officer and the citizen deserve protection from the system that provides for the deaths of both." Mr. Phillips said that some people were getting "hung up" on the language of the statement. But when dealing with the problems of extreme deprivation, he said, extreme language is used to express hostility. "The attempt to police the community from the outside," Mr. Phillips said, "produces hostility from the person policed." "The officers, historically, have not seen the black citizen as a human being," he added. The Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, vice chairman of the City Council and a member of the board of the BUF, said he had not read the statement and had no comment. Mr. Fauntroy said he would issue a statement today. C. Sumner Stone, a BUF board member, former assistant to Adam Clayton Powell and once editor of the Washington Afro-American newspaper, said he was not present when the BUF statement was drawn up and would not comment. Asked if there was any division between Negro moderates and black militants within the group. co-chairman Jones said the resolution was passed at a duly notified and called meeting. "When we have a unanimous vote," Jones said, "the Front takes a position itself." "When there is a majority vote," he said, "the Front requires those in the minority" not to oppose the decision publicly. Criticizing the role of the press Jones said "the problem with the white community in understanding what goes on in the black community is its apparent need to identify and play up divisiveness." TEXT OF RESOLUTION ON SLAYING OF POLICE This is the resolution the Black United Front passed Wednesday night: Resolution in support of the black family accused of the alleged slaying of a honky cop by the Black United Front. Whereas the black community knows from history that police are controlled by whites and come into the black community to suppress rather than protect black people; whereas the black community knows and recognizes from its history that police do not regard the lives of black people and have killed black people under the guise of justifiable homicide and have been allowed to do so because black people have no meaningful say so in their being hired or fired and these cops have no interest in the black community; whereas the black community needs systems of control and protection from oppressive elements; be it resolved that 1) The methods of self-defense by the family charged with the alleged slaying of the honky cop is justifiable homicide in the same sense that police are allowed to kill black people and call it justifiable homicide. 2) The police assigned to the black community be placed under the control of the black community. 3) The society face up to its responsibility to remove a colonial, racist system which make such events possible. Black people have resolved that this change will occur by any means necessary to preserve both freedom and comfort. Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, Chairman, House District Committee, 2208 House Office Building, Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 1968. DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN : I am writing as a law abiding citizen of Washington, D.C., on the matter of police protection. Last month it was the riots and just Thursday, May 16th, one capital transit bus driver was killed and a half dozen others were robbed while working the same evening; and now another demonstration about to take place, the Poor Peoples March. I understand you have introduced a bill to combine all of the five Police Forces in the city and give them all the same arresting power so that citizens could be better protected. Wouldn't this be better than closing some of the Police Precincts in the city which we need. What has happened to your bill? Has the District Committee considered your bill so it could be passed at this session of Congress? Your bill should be passed, at least I hope it will be, the sooner the better. Thanking you again for having the interest of this city and especially the protection of all its good citizens. Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia, DEAR MR. MCMILLAN: The Government of the District of Columbia has for report H.R. 14430 and H.R. 14448, identical bills, "To establish a Commissioner of Police for the District of Columbia." The purpose of this legislation, stated by one of its sponsors, Congressman Broyhill (113 Cong. Rec. H16901, daily ed. December 13, 1967), is to consolidate the five separate police forces now operating in the District of Columbia; i.e., the Metropolitan Police, United States Park Police, Capitol Police, White House Police, and National Zoological Park Police. These forces would all be under the complete jurisdiction of a Commissioner of Police appointed for a four-year term by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, acting jointly. A nine-member advisory commission would also be appointed by the Speaker and President pro tempore. The District of Columbia Government is strongly opposed to the removal of the Metropolitan Police Department from the municipal government. A police department is an integral part of any municipal government, with its services subject to coordination with those of all municipal agencies. This coordination, in the District of Columbia as elsewhere, is essential to the well-being of all the citizens. Therefore, reasons for the District's opposition to this legislation include the following: 1. The bills in effect divide responsibility and weaken the ability of the Government of the District of Columbia to provide comprehensive protection and services for people living in the District. 2. If enacted the legislation would cause conflict and confusion between Police operations and closely related services in crime control, including the functions of education, corrections, welfare, and traffic control. 3. It would result in a major reversal in the trend toward citizen participation and involvement in District Government affairs provided under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967. 4. The bills would create waste and inefficiency through requiring duplication of supporting services, such as personnel, purchasing, and computer equipment by setting up a costly overhead organization duplicating many existing support services in the D.C. Government. 5. Considerable coordination of the Police functions (involving all entities covered by the subject bills) with other related functions such as Civil Defense, Fire Protection, Corrections, the Courts, and the Attorney General is accruing through the District of Columbia Director of Public Safety. The foregoing reasons are sufficient for the Government of the District of Columbia to strongly recommend against the enactment of H.R. 14430 and H.R. 14448. Additional information is being developed and will be sent to you later. I have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that, from the standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no objection to the submission of this report to the Congress. Sincerely yours, (S) Walter E. Washington, Commissioner. |