Question. The 1978 base figures used in the Subcommittee Print total $539,088 in actual expenditures. In the justifications on page 18, the amount of $498,735 is given. Explain the discrepancy. Response. The difference between the 1978 base figure total in the Subcommittee Print ($539,088.00) and the figure in the justifications on page 18 ($498,735.00) is explained by the fact that when the justification figure was prepared on September 30, 1978 all 1978, bills had not been presented for payment. GAO REPORT ON PROLIFERATION OF POLICE Mr. BENJAMIN. I would like to get your reaction to the recent GAO report on the proliferation of the police forces in the District and what changes you can make in your department and what other services can be absorbed under the guidance that the GAO gave you. Do you want to respond to that for the record? Chief POWELL. Yes, sir. I would like to submit for the record a copy of my letter of February 22, 1979 to the Chairman of the Capitol Police Board and a copy of his letter of February 23, 1979 to the Director of the General Government Division of the General Accounting Office. [The information follows:] UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF 331 FIRST STREET, NE. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 February 22, 1979 Honorable F. Nordy Hoffmann U. S. Capitol Police Board Dear Mr. Chairman: We have thoroughly reviewed the draft of the proposed report prepared by the Staff of the United States General Accounting Office for Senator Lawton M. Chiles. This report reviews four police forces operating within the District of Columbia: the Metropolitan Police, the United States Capitol Police, the United States Park Police and the Metro Transit Police. In this report the General Accounting Office concludes that the Capitol Police could effect a savings through making greater use of civilians and guards to perform duties now assigned to uniformed officers, and by improving procurement practices. Initially, I would like to emphasize that any study or comparison involving the United States Capitol Police should be prefaced with an acknowledgement of the unique nature of their responsibility in protecting the United States Congress and the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds. People throughout the world look upon the Capitol more than any other edifice as the symbol of the United States Government. As such the Capitol is the focal point of not only visitors to the city, but also those desiring to influence public policy by whatever means. During Calendar Year 1978, the Capitol Police were called upon to provide security for no less than 77 separate visits by ranking dignitaries of foreign governments. Additionally, 41 divergent groups of varying persuasions and dispositions ranging from Iranian Students opposing American policy toward the Iranian Government, to farmers seeking legislation favorable to increased agricultural price supports, conducted demonstrations at the Capitol. Not only is the Capitol the focal point of public demonstrations, unlike the White House and other government buildings which restrict access, the Capitol is the peoples building and allows virtually unlimited access by any citizen or visitor. Security and accessibility are essentially opposing concepts, and the greater accomodation of one must be at the expense of the other. If we are going to allow freedom of access to the Capitol, our challenge of providing adequate security is measurably increased and made more difficult. The recent demonstration by members of the American Agricultural Movement is a prime example of the exigencies which arise from time to time for which we must be prepared to act on short notice. Because of the vociferous nature of the demonstrators and the complicating factor of large amounts of heavy farm equipment and machinery within the vicinity of the Capitol, it has been necessary to assign all members of the Capitol Police force to twelve hour tours of duty on a seven day a week basis. Other area law enforcement agencies have been experiencing similar circumstances and have also been operating at near capacity levels in order to maintain effective control over events as they have occurred. For the Capitol Police, responding to the special needs created by this major demonstration while at the same time providing for the daily law enforcement requirements of the Legislative Branch necessitated the use of administrative personnel in addition to the personnel assigned to shifts. Had these trained personnel not been available, we would have been sorely pressed to meet our commitments. On the basis of our experience as well as our responsibility to the Congress and to the people whose right it is to come to the Capitol of the United States, we must respectfully and strongly disagree with the General Accounting Office staff opinion that certain administrative personnel and those personnel assigned to the 11:00 P. M. to 7:00 A. M. tour of duty could be replaced by civilian or guard employees To do so would in our opinion be an excercise in false economy and would undoubtedly compromise the high level of professional law enforcement service we strive to render. |