Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 76.djvu/955

 76 STAT.]

PUBLIC LAW 87-797-OCT. 11, 1962

907

Public Law 87-797 AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to create trial boards for the United States Parle Police, and for other purposes.

October U, 1962

[H. R. 8567]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) in the U. S. Park lice. making and enforcement of rules and regulations for the government, P oDisciplinsiry conduct, and discipline of the United States Park Police, the Secretary action. of the Interior may provide, in addition to any other penalties authorized by law, for fines of not to exceed $100 and for suspensions without .pay for not more than seven days for any violation of such rules and regulations. (b) Disciplinary action involving a suspension without pay for three days or less may, after due notice to the accused, be taken pursuant to a summary proceeding by the Chief of the United States Park Police. Any person subject to such a proceeding shall be entitled to a trial board proceeding upon his request made at any time prior to the imposition of summary penalties but not thereafter. (c) Disciplinary action against any member of the United States Park Police involving a fine or a suspension without pay for more than three days shall be taken only after a proceeding before a trial board and on the basis of written charges referred to the trial board by the Chief of the United States Park Police. Timely service of a copy of such charges shall be made upon the accused. Any such charges referred to a trial board may be altered or amended in the discretion of the trial board under such regulations as the Secretary may adopt. The accused shall be entitled to an opportunity to be heard before the trial board on any charge referred to it and on any altered or amended charge. (d) Any member of the United States Park Police accused of Counsel for accused. violating the rules and regulations for the proper government, conduct, and discipline of the United States Park Police shall be entitled to representation by counsel of his choice. SEC. 2. (a) The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to create Trial boards, one or more trial boards for the trial of members of the United States creaticm. Park Police who are charged with any violation of the rules and regulations for the proper government, conduct, and discipline of the United States Park Police; to prescribe the rules of procedure before such trial boards; and to change or abolish any trial board: Provided, however, That no changes in the rules of procedure shall be effective, and no trial boards shall be abolished or changed, with respect to charges upon which a hearing has already commenced. Each trial board shall consist of three persons designated by the Secretary. One and only one member of each such board shall be a member of the United States Park Police; he shall, except in the case of a trial of an officer with the rank of inspector, have a rank no lower than that of the accused. The other two members shall be employed in the Department of the Interior and hold a grade at least equivalent to that of the accused. The Secretary shall designate the chairman of each trial board. (b) The findings and sentence of a trial board with respect to fines Appeals. and suspensions within the limits authorized by this Act shall be final and conclusive unless notice of an appeal therefrom in writing is ^iven within ten days to the Secretary of the Interior. If such notice is given, the accused may present his appeal to the Secretary in writing. The Secretary may grant or request an oral presentation of such appeal. The Secretary is authorized, but is not required, in his review of the evidence and findings or a trial board to receive new

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