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D.C. Friend of Syracuse's Black Community Retied
U.S. Dept. of Justice Official Feted at Retirement Celebration
Reflections on Howard Carrington's Exemplary Career

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National Administration of Justice Specialist, Mr. Howard P. Carrington, of the Community Relations Service, U.S. Department of Justice, marked the end of a long career in law enforcement with a retirement luncheon at Waters Caterers, Rockville, MD., Friday, March 16. Scores of family members, colleagues, friends and a coterie of "long lost friends" from throughout the Eastern Seaboard were on hand to fete Carrington with a celebration that included roasts, toasts, musical interludes and a gift presentation. 

While accolades were conferred on Mr. Carrington during the Luncheon, he sought to highlight the many contributions of those who organized the Luncheon. In a telephone interview with the I.C., an appreciative Mr. Carrington described the function as "quite an experience." "If there is any way one can sufficiently tie together past and present, it was capably done," he said.

He thanked the organizing committee, Miss Selina Evans (Chairperson), Teresa Hardrick, Edward Taylor and Diana Tyson, and Master of Ceremonies Roscoe Nix who "just did miracles with the short amount of time they had. The whole program was done with such professionalism. I'm more proud of the ones who got it together than all their kind remarks."

He was presented with a reproduction he had designed of the Community Relations Service Agency logo by CRS Director Gilbert Pompa. He also received an attache case that he described as a "work of art".

Among those speaking at the function were Roscoe Nix, Associate Director, Office of Technical Assistance, CRS; Osmond Brown, Director, Executive Staff, U.S. Dept. of Treasury; Harvey L. Brinson, President, Boyd Enterprises; Kenneth Whitlock, a College Classmate; Dr. Howard Bolden, former Principal of Dunbar High School; Selina Evans and Gilbert Pompa. 

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES

Upon the occasion of his retirement, Mr. Carrington received congratulatory messages from many individuals and organizations, including President Reagan, Mayors Tom Bradley of Los Angeles, Harold Washington of Chicago and Wilson Goode of Philadelphia; Scotland Yard; the Human Relations Service in Ontario, Canada; the International Chiefs of Police; and the National Black Chiefs of Police Association. 

Mr. Carrington expressed regret that his friend, Concert Pianist and I.C. Publisher, Robert S. Pritchard, scheduled to perform in his honour, could not attend due to illness. He said, "Despite the fact we are reminded of what we can't continue to do," and despite the fact his guests were the "losers by not hearing [Pritchard's] artistry..." it was still a "stellar event".

Musical performances were provided by Dr. Edward Robinson, Bass, Philadelphia Deputy City Manager, accompanied by Fred Bonaparte in a rendition of one of Mr. Carrington's poems, "Images of Love", which Mr. Bonaparte set to music; Soprano Annette Poulard, who performed George Gershwin's "Summertime", accompanied by Metropolitan Opera Coach Sylvia Lee. Neat the close of the program, James East, accompanied by his brother, Fr. Raymond East, Baritone, in "God Made You Gentle as a Summer's Breeze," composed by James East.

AN EXEMPLARY CAREER

Mr. Carrington has been identified during his exemplary career with enlightened and progressive attitudes towards police-community relations, with special sensitivities to the dynamics of the minority community's interaction with law enforcement. In his capacity as National Administration of Justice Specialist, he has advised Police Departments and community groups through the U.S. on Police-Community tensions. In 1978, he received an Award for Meritorious Service from U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell. 

BOrn in New Brunswick, N.J., Mr. Carrington attended Virginia State College and Temple University. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute of Criminology and began what was to be a 19 year career in law enforcement in Darby, Pa., where he was for many years its highest ranking police official. In 1963, he was appointed Special Agent for Criminal and Civil Rights Investigations for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Justice by Gov. William Scranton. 

Howard Carrington entered Federal Government service in 1968 as an Equal Opportunity Specialist for the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development. He later served as a Police Specialist with the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, before joining the CRS.

REFLECTIONS ON POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Mr. Carrington took a moment to reflect on the changes he has observed over the years in the field of law enforcement. He observed that there has been "an awakening of the consciousness on both sides of the coin." The police have come to the realization that "their job is an impossible task without the assistance of the general citizenry," and the citizenry in turn "seem more aware of the channels available to them to lodge complaints and [resolve] disputes". As a result "There's a better climate for resolution of community discord. [Both sides] are willing to sit at the same table and talk about programs."

The CRS' mission in this process has been crucial, one that has been "solidly interwoven in the fabric of every community in the country." Though Carrington did point out that "there is still a great amount of suspicion regarding the police presence in minority communities", there has been, he added, "a lessening of the over hostility" that abounded in years past. He commended police departments' "greater inclination... to constructively join in to establish benchmarks necessary for success." Even further reduction of suspicion of police, especially in the minority community, "can only be achieved with cooperative effort of the police working with the community leadership."

FUTURE PLANS

While in retirement, Carrington will be retained by the CRS as a consultant. He has also embarked on a project of establishing a private consulting firm "devoted to problems affecting police, courts, correction. There will be other experts joining me in the operation of the firm."

Throughout his adult years, Howard P. Carrington has remained active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Urban League and the NAACP. He was honored for community service with the Citizen of the Tear Award from Darby, PA, the Outstanding Citizenship Award of the Delaware County Veterans of Foreign Wars, and NAACP Citation during its Fight for Freedom Campaign. 

The first Annual Kenneth David Kaunda Award for Humanism, named after the President of the Republic of Zambia, was conferred upon him by the Ambassador of Zambia to the United Nations in August, 1979. Mr. Carrington is also a poet, author of a volume of poetry published by "Applecrest Press" in 1980 entitled "Carrintonia I". He and his wife Rosetta, an instructor in Nursing at the University of the District of Columbia, are noted Patrons of the Arts. 

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