1444                                      VETOES

police actions in labor and other disputes and may create valid
doubts concerning the impartiality of the Force in the minds of the
public.

Labor unions could impose a measure of outside control and in-
fluence upon police activities that is contrary to the public interest.
A police commissioner or other official must not surrender or re-
linquish his constitutional responsibility to a private self-serving or-
ganization. The State cannot enter a collective bargaining agree-
ment and cannot allow a closed shop that would interfere with the
selection of the most qualified public employees. Unions use the
strike as a primary weapon against management despite no strike
agreements and statutes. Union members with and without official
union sanction have participated in walk-outs and strikes affecting
the health, safety and welfare of the public. To establish a ma-
chinery for a police strike or even a work slow-down, with a possi-
bility of looting, disorder and loss of life, is unwise and unthinkable.
I have been advised that of the 37,000 police agencies in the United
States, fewer than 60 are unionized, and only one city force of any
size is affiliated with organized labor.

I sincerely believe that police employees should be allowed to
form local fraternal, benefit and social organizations operated by
the policemen themselves. Such groups may properly be concerned
with employment conditions and may be authorized to speak for
police personnel in such matters.

The Police Department is not an ordinary branch of the govern-
ment such as the Water Department, the Comptroller's Department,
the Post Office, or even the Fire Department. First, there is a need
for discipline in a police department which is similar to that re-
quired in a military organization. Second, officers by the very na-
ture of their responsibilities are required to forego certain personal
privileges that are enjoyed by private employees. Members of a po-
lice department are not mere workers, but are officers of the govern-
ment and are charged with specific duties in maintaining public or-
der and administering justice. An industrial employee's actions for
the most part concern only himself and his employer; the actions of
a member of the police department concern the public as a whole.
This distinction is vital.

The State of Maryland has reacted quickly to studies which in-
dicate deficiencies in the management and personnel practices in the
Baltimore Police Department. Legislation has been enacted to pro-
vide improved management, grievance, disciplinary and promotional
procedures. The attention of executive and legislative officials has
been directed to the selection, training, salary and fringe benefits
of the Department members, and improvement in these matters is
forthcoming. For the above enumerated reasons, I feel compelled to
veto House Bill 283.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.