University, Cambridge Both Deny Jurisdiction Over Assault Area

The assault and robbery of Ralph T. Rockafellar '57 Wednesday night pointed up a possible lack in police protection along the Charles River as both the University and the Cambridge police have denied jurisdiction over the area.

Rockafellar was attacked by four hoodlums across Memorial Drive opposite Winthrop House. He called in the University police, but it soon developed that his case came under the jurisdiction of the Charles River Basin Division of the Metropolitan District Commission Police.

According to Rockafellar, the Metropolitan police seemed to know almost nothing about Cambridge affairs. "They didn't seem very interested in the case," he said. "They seemed much more interested in finding out how much I paid for my room."

A check revealed that, though the metropolitan police patrol the area, the protection afforded may be inadequate. According to Captain Mallory of the Basin Division, the metropolitan police send a patrol car by the area once every 15 or 20 minutes.

But Lieutenant Hayes of the same division pointed out that foot patrolmen could be assigned to the area only when there were enough men available. He added that sickness, vacations, and days off often reduced the man-power supply.

"We have virtually no footmen in the area," Captain Mallory agreed. "We patrol the section mainly by car." He claimed, however, that the section was well patrolled since it falls near the area of four separate police organizations: the Basin Division, the Cambridge police, the University police, and the Charles River Upper Division of the Metropolitan police, which covers the other side of the river.

"We're going to be especially vigilant from now on," Mallory added, "and we've warned the upper division."

At present the University has a foot-man whose beat includes the strip from Eliot to Dunster on this side of Memorial Drive.