N. Y. Jewish Policemen Told They Must Be on Duty During Rosh Hashanah

New York Police Commissioner, Stephen S. Ken-nedy, said last night that Jewish policemen who could not exchange tours with other policemen during Rosh Hashanah–which coincides with the visit of Khrushchev, Castro and Nasser to the city to attend the United Nations General Assembly–would have to report to work.

Speaking on a television program, the Police Commissioner, whose wife is Jewish, said an emergency has arisen because of the large number of Communist leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly this week and he needs, his entire 24, 000-man police force to keep order. For the 1,300 Jewish members of the force, this means working during the Holy Days which begin at sundown Wednesday.

Emphasizing that he is not going to “back away” from his order that every policeman able to work must report to duty, Commissioner Kennedy said that any policeman avoiding duty during the emergency was a man “quitting under fire.” He wanted to know what practice is followed by police in Israel. “We have separation of Church and State in this country under the Constitution and I will not succumb to any political, religious or racial pressure group,” he said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Walter Arm, who works directly under Kennedy, said Jewish policemen failing to report to work on the Holy Days would be “subject to the rules and regulations of the department with which every member of the force is familiar.” He added that “I would not speculate on the penalties involved for committing this offense.”

A Police Department spokesman said all policemen knew when they joined the force that religious holidays could be canceled by the Police Commissioner in an emergency. Jewish policemen will be allowed time to attend synagogue services, he said, but must return to work afterward.