Warren Commission (13 of 26): Hearings Vol. XIII (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (13 of 26): Hearings Vol. XIII (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. SORRELS. No, sir; I did not.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you observe any system of identification of the people
who were on the third floor?
Mr. SORRELS. As I recall it, when I first went down there I had no
particular difficulty getting in, because most of the officers there
know me, from my years of being in that city. But subsequent to
that time I would have to identify myself many times. This was to
uniformed police officers that were on duty. And I would have to show
my commission book in order to get into Captain Fritz’ office, or else
get into the executive offices there, where the chief of police and the
deputy chief offices were located.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you observe any officers posted at the entrances to the
area, to the third floor area?
Mr. SORRELS. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Where were they?
Mr. SORRELS. By the elevator, and then there were uniformed officers at
Captain Fritz’ door.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you observe them requiring identification by other
persons? I mean you described how they required you to identify
yourself. Did you notice whether they did so with other people, and if
so, what did they do?
Mr. SORRELS. I cannot say that I did, because usually when I get
through identifying myself, I either went to the executive suite, where
the chief’s office was, or right direct to Captain Fritz’ office. But
on a number of occasions, the officers that were on duty there, before
I can get my commission book out, some of the newsmen or photographers
there that knew me would say, “He is Sorrels of the Secret Service.”
I, upon being recognized and identifying myself, would be admitted.
Some of the officers on duty there of course after the second or third
time they would recognize me, and I would have no difficulty getting
in. But I cannot say that I saw anyone else being required to identify
themselves, because I did not hang around the places where the officers
were.
Mr. HUBERT. Would you say that the security conditions that you just
described were in effect for the entire period of November 22 through
November 24--that is, on the third floor?
Mr. SORRELS. Captain Fritz’ office definitely yes--going into his
office. I do not recall having to identify myself to get onto the third
floor on the 22d when I first got down there. But subsequent to that
time, I do recall having to identify myself almost every time I went up
there.
Mr. HUBERT. What was the general condition of the third floor area from
point of personnel, equipment, and so forth?
Mr. SORRELS. I guess you could term it more or less deplorable, because
of the fact that they had so many cameras with tripods and cables and
wires and photographers and reporters that you would have to step
over tripods and wires and almost elbow your way to get in and out of
the place. And every time you would come out of it--Captain Fritz’
office--they would turn on those bright lights, and you would have to
shield your eyes almost to keep from being temporarily blinded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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