Reading Room Document

D.C. Home Rule‐‐Police Protection

The document discusses the potential impact of D.C. Home Rule legislation on police protection available to the Federal Government. It concludes that the civilian police forces under direct federal control, such as the Park Police, White House Police, and Capitol Police, are not large enough to provide adequate protection without the cooperation of the Metropolitan Police. Additionally, it highlights the limitations on the President's authority to use military forces for law enforcement in the absence of express statutory authority. The document presents questions about the jurisdiction of civilian police forces, the authority to use military forces for law enforcement, and the need to clarify the President's power to assume control over the local police department.

September 9, 1965