NEW ROLE FOR CHIEF POWELL

Mr. BENJAMIN. Mr. Harding, do you have a written statement? Mr. HARDING. No, sir, I do not.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Are there any questions on the Sergeant at Arms' Office other than those for the Chief?

Then, Chief Powell, we will go right to you. I am reminded that this is your 15th appearance before this Subcommittee. You first appeared as a newly-appointed Capitol Police Chief back in 1966, testifying on the fiscal year 1967 budget. In previous years, of course, you were a member of the Metropolitan Police detail and a deputy chief of the District of Columbia police force.

This time, however, you are now a newly-installed member of the Capitol Police Force rolls. Welcome aboard, Chief. This may well signify the beginning of a new era in Capitol Police operations and we wish you and the force the best of luck.

Chief POWELL. Thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this Committee regarding the budget recommendations for the United States Capitol Police. I have a brief prepared statement that I would like to read.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Fine.

OPENING STATEMENT OF CHIEF POWELL

Chief POWELL. The U.S. Capitol Police serve with pride as police officers with the unique responsibility of protecting 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 1979, over 1,400,000 people visited the Capitol Building on guided tours. The U.S. Capitol Police are happy to assist visitors in a manner that makes the visit to their Capitol more enjoyable.

The Capitol was visited on 53 occasions by foreign dignitaries and other high ranking foreign or government officials necessitating 9,696 man-hours of police coverage. The Joint Sessions of Congress and other Congressional functions utilized 8,101 man-hours of police coverage.

During calendar year 1979 there were 180 demonstration permits issued, of which 187,000 man-hours of police coverage were utilized for 59 of the demonstrations.

As you are aware, police must also be assigned for certain daily operations of the Congress which necessitated 26,704 man-hours of additional police coverage for Members, committees and other miscellaneous functions of the Congress.

During calendar year 1979 the police had 185 bomb related responses utilizing 1,336 man-hours. The vast majority of these responses were for suspicious packages, all of which I am happy to report were unfounded and not dangerous in nature. I am very proud of our hazardous device personnel who are very well trained and able to respond to situations as the need arises. They are assisted by six canine teams trained in explosive detection.

WELL-TRAINED FORCE

It is necessary for all of our police to be well trained so that they may fulfill their responsibilities. Capitol Police officers have received 107,090 hours of training during calendar year 1979. I am proud to report that thus far 30 Capitol Police officials have graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Mr. Chairman, on occasion questions are raised regarding the comparison of the number of U.S. Capitol Police officers with those of various cities in the United States. This comparison is completely irrelevant in that no other police department in the United States has similar responsibilities to those of the U.S. Capitol Police.

One great difference in responsibilities of the United States Capitol Police and other city police departments is the urgency for prevention of crimes of violence. As an example, within a six block radius of the Capitol grounds there were 267 such crimes while within the Capitol grounds there were 9 such crimes. Within the Capitol grounds there were no sexual assaults, homicides, kidnappings or rapes. There were 9 robberies within the Capitol grounds during calendar year 1979.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

Mr. Chairman, the primary responsibility of the Capitol Police is to insure that the legislative branch of government is able to perform its duties free from undue harassment and intimidation from unruly persons and such.

In carrying out our responsibilities we man approximately 583 fixed posts in and around the 20 Capitol buildings and garages. No other police department in the United States has similar responsibilities.

There were 13 arrests within the Capitol buildings for possession of dangerous weapons. Six persons were charged with carrying a pistol without a license, two persons were charged with possessing unregistered ammunition and firearms, three persons were charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (knife), one person was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (pistol), and one person was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (shotgun).

CAPITOL POLICE OVERTIME

Mr. Chairman, as you are certainly aware, in order for the United States Capitol Police to meet their responsibilities, it has been necessary to work some overtime hours. During fiscal year 1979, police personnel on the House roll worked 100,943 hours of overtime. Of this amount, 77,604 hours (77 percent) was worked during the second quarter of fiscal year 1979.

During the first quarter of fiscal year 1980, approximately 10,676 hours overtime have been worked by officers on the House roll. Every effort is being made to reduce overtime to an absolute minimum while at the same time attempting to provide adequate security.

PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET

At this time, Mr. Chairman, we would like to submit for consideration the proposed operating budget for the United States Capitol Police for fiscal year 1981. The amount requested for fiscal 1981 is $834,000 which reflects an increase of approximately 3 percent over the budgeted level for fiscal 1980. No new programs or major changes in present procedures have been included in this request and any increase can be attributed to the rising cost of items purchased and services rendered.

In summary, the proposed operating budget for fiscal 1981 is as follows:

$32,000, Office Equipment and Supplies. The amount requested for this item has been reduced by $3,500. This reduction is the result of some consolidation of copying machines and more efficient usage of same.

$22,500, Laundry and Dry Cleaning. This item reflects an increase of $2,500 (12.5 percent) as compared with the allocation for fiscal 1980. This increase coincides with the prevalent changes in prices for such services.

$100,300, Communications. This substantial reduction of $36,775 (26 percent) resulted partly from the change in policy of purchasing certain equipment instead of leasing same and further by providing our own preventive and corrective maintenance, thereby having less down time for radio equipment vital to our operation.

$121,250, Vehicles. The increase of $23,750 (25 percent) for this item is principally due to the rise in cost for fuel and maintenance. $480, Allowance Secretary to the Police Board. There is no change in this item.

$277,970, Uniforms and Equipment. The reduction of $16,430 (15 percent) reflects a slight decrease in uniform replacement requirements due to the selection of more serviceable uniforms for purchase.

$69,000, Investigations Division. The request for this item reflects a reduction of $13,500 (16 percent) for the two component units: the Identification Branch and the Special Investigation Branch. It is projected that some of our in-house equipment should be adequate for these branches during fiscal year 1981.

$193,000, Training. This substantial increase of $100,095 results from several factors: An anticipated increase in personnel to be trained due to the projected vacancies during fiscal year 1981; increases in travel costs to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; and increased cost for ammunition and other training items. Previously, all travel, even though training related, was listed under miscellaneous. More appropriately, training related travel has been transferred under the training item.

$17,500, Miscellaneous. This item is principally allocated to K-9 expenses and other incidental contingencies.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Off the record.

[Discussion off the record.] Mr. BENJAMIN. On the record. I will yield to Mr. Rudd.

METROPOLITAN POLICE DETAIL

Mr. RUDD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will get some quick questions out of the way here.

I would like to start by addressing some questions to Mr. Harding, if I may, which have to do with the Capitol Police program. Under Public Law 96-152 enacted last December, those Metropolitan police officers who are assigned here can transfer back to the Metropolitan Police Department at any time.

Mr. HARDING. They have that option. However, it is not mandatory. They have the right to phaseout under the program which was worked out with the Subcommittee of Police and Personnel of the House Administration Committee.

Mr. RUDD. And if they want to stay here 20 years and then transfer back, they can retire at better benefits with the Metropolitan Police Department?

Mr. HARDING. It won't be that long. I believe the last one would phase out in a few years. They are few in numbers. We are only talking about 20-some odd men.

Mr. RUDD. How long will it be before the last Metropolitan police officer will retire with 20 years' service, transfer back to the Metropolitan force, or become a Capitol policeman?

Mr. HARDING. If it worked out to the extreme, I believe it is fiscal year 1990.

Chief POWELL. The last one is one sergeant who would not get his 20 years in until 1990. This is a copy of the phase out.

Mr. HARDING. We are submitting that for the record anyway. Mr. RUDD. Thank you, Chief.

We get back into the 61.4 percent surcharge that we have to pay for Metropolitan police officers that serve here. We discussed it a lot last year, the surcharge on the salary that we have to pay for the Metropolitan police retirement fund.

Let me ask you, according to this Metropolitan detail phaseout plan, how much would this surcharge amount to over the years if each officer who now is a Metropolitan police officer remains detailed to the Capitol Police? How much will that cost us?

Mr. HARDING. Well, as the Clerk mentioned during his testimony, the reduction now is $436,700 for this year, this coming fiscal year. But we still require for the Police Board-

Chief POWELL. It is $914,900 for fiscal 1981. I have that in a letter to the chairman. I had not gotten to that. But we recommend to reduce that amount by $436,654.92 which would bring it down to $914,900 for fiscal 1981.

Then we have a breakdown projected on the reduction for each year thereafter.

Mr. RUDD. Would you make that a part of the record?

Chief POWELL. Yes, sir. It will include names and all the figures. [The information follows:]