The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 3

Blames Pete's Policies The Pittsburgh Press, Friday, June 28, 1974 Police Bureau Of Identification Cutback Ripped 'I By HARRY BLACK The chief of the city police bureau's identification unit has revealed his department has suffered a 58 per cent manpower drop since 1969. Joseph Wallace charged yesterday that during the five-year period, his unit, housed 4ln the downtown lie Safety Building, has dwindled from a staff of 43 to 18. Inflated Figure The problem mushrooms, a the detective-first-grade, with the realization that the current figure includes secretaries, whereas the 1969 figure did not. A competent identification unit "for a city the size of Pittsburgh" should have 50 full-time specialists working on a three-shift, 24-hour basis, said the 29-year veteran the city police bureau. He blamed the Flaherty administration's austerity program.

"We are all going to vote for (Mayor Pete) Flaherty to get the police bureau moving again," he said. "I think a new mayor would look favorably toward improving our situation." Wallace was alluding to the mayor's campaign for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Richard S. Schweiker. State Parley Here Wallace is attending the 8th annual conference of the Pennsylvania State Division of the International Association of Identification (IAI), continuing today at the Marriott Inn in Greentree.

A founder of the IAI's state affiliate, Wallace anticipated that 125 of the 250 members should attend before the parlay ends tomorrow. An attendance-stifling factor, he said, is that all identification personnel must "come here on their own time. I saved two vacation days to make it." The first vice president of the IAI plans to attend the upcoming international conference in Arlington, a where he hopes to be elevated to the orgainzation's presidency. In that event, Wallace believes he would be the first Pennsylvania law enforce-' ment officer to hold the position. On Own Time A check with his superiors has made it clear that the trip will, again, be on Wallace's own time and money.

Along with his inadequate staff complaint, Wallace said Juniors want to ioin all the fun it "I I. I when playmates like halters, T-tops and shorts get together at savings! DA Against Release Of 4 Murderers JOSEPH WALLACE Will 'vote' for Flaherty. personnel turnover in his unit is too swift, and equipment although adequate with enough manpower is obso lete. The IAI sets five years as minimum experience before a specialist should testify in court. There is nothing more positive or deadly (in a criminal case) than a finger print.

Such testimony is ex tremely important," he said. But a specialist's compe- "vanes with the individual," added Wallace. "Along with experience, he must have patience and an in nate curiosity." Mediocre Level He said that most of his personnel are in and out of the unit within two years -keeping competence at me diocre levels and far below the IAI rule of thumb. With regard to facilities Wallace said that, although part of the records section is on microfilm, the criminal identification system is not. Two years ago, a Wallace study showed that a criminal micra-code would cost the city $50,000.

He has no idea what inflation has done to that figure. A final demoralizing factor voiced by Wallace was that as far as promotions are con' cerned, division is "a general limbo." Wallace has held the Same rank since 1957. "You just don't get a promotion unless you crack a big case." Philip R. Sheridan, Local FBI chief; Dist. Atty.

John J. Hickton, and city police Supt. Robert E. Colville were to address the conference before tomorrow's closing cere-monies. Penitentiary serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Howard Washington in 1961 at a Hill District bar.

After a fight In one bar, Johnson bought a rifle in a pawn shop, shells in another, found the victim at another bar and killed him, according to court testimony. Asks Commutation Mallory B. Drennen, 6 1 sentenced to 9 to 18 years for the second-degree murder of Mrs. Dorothy Toward in 1969 in a Cheswick cabin, also asked for commutation. Following an argument, Drennen retrieved a gun from a car and shot the victim in the head, according to testimony.

Manning said commutation would be premature in light of Drennen's serving five years and three months of his sentence. However, the district attorney's office did not oppose commutation of the sentence of Eugene Delano Gatewood, 40, of East Liberty, convicted of the $114 armed robbery of the Foxmoor Casuals Store in Monroeville on Oct. 1, 1969. Gatewood, caught as he attempted to flee the scene in a car, has responded to rehabilitation programs and could be re-established in the community, Manning said. 19 County Cases In all, the Pardons Board heard 19 cases from the county, of which seven asked for outright pardons, and the rest commutations.

A commutation involves parole and supervision after release from prison. A pardon clears the appealer's record of his conviction. The board, which also heard 13 cases from surrounding counties, will take each petition under advisement before making a recommendation in each case. C(LOR pr black-and-white photos are eligible in The Press Snapshot Qontest. on the top T-shirts The T's that top all! Short and long sleeve cottons patterned with all kinds of great graphics favorite solids, too.

Whites, brights, pastels! Stock your supply! S-M-L Originally 5.99-7.99 on Kicky short shorts All your favorite looks high and low-rise, jean styles. Cotton denims, cottons with polyester or acetate. Checks, patterns, solids. Whites, brights, pastels, denim blues. 5 to 13.

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A sister of the victim appeared at the Pardons Board hearing yesterday to oppose the early release. Asst. Dist. Atty. Jeffrey A.

Manning told the board the district attorney's office opposes Perry's release, despite the fact he has served 31 years. Perry, now in the state corrections facility at Huntington, has a bad prison record and has not shown signs of being rehabilitated, according to testimony yesterday. In another case, John Rig-gins, 60, asked commutation of two concurrent life sentences he's serving at Western Penitentiary. Burned House Riggins was convicted of murder after setting fire in 1965 to a house at 1135 Pennsylvania North Side, in which Mrs. Louise Cearri and her daughter, Wendy Lou, burned to death.

Manning said commutation would be unacceptable in, view of the nature of the' crime and the fact Riggins has served only eight years and two months of his sentence, The early release of Allen Johnson, 52, of 1904 Bedford also was opposed in view of his record of miscon-(Juct in Western Pennsylvania prisons. Johnson is now in Western 13-12 off All the views on the great sunglass looks! All at look-again prices! Everything from bold tortoise-tone frame-ups to livewires. Your favorite lens shades. Get several new sunglass views at savings 1.99-2.99 Add 6 Pa. Tax Sunglasses: Mellon Square, First; Suburban Stores LJ unbelt CALL 47 1-8400 PARK'FREE any 3 hours at Simbels Saturday 9 a.tfi.

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