DISTRICT BRIEFING

METRO POLICE SUBSTATION

Groundbreaking To Be Held Today

Metro plans to break ground at 2 p.m. today on a Metro Transit Police substation near the Fort Totten rail station.

The three-story, 18,500-square-foot building at 5315 First Pl. NE will serve as the base for the District 1 patrol officers. They now report to a Metro facility in Northeast Washington that also houses a print facility and archive.

The substation, which will open in early 2007 and cost $4.9 million to build, will be named for Transit Police Officer Marlon F. Morales, who was fatally shot while on duty in June 2001.

Morales was trying to stop a fare evader in the U Street Station when he was shot in the face at the turnstiles. He died in the hospital several days later. His widow, Jennifer Morales, is expected at the ceremony.

-- Lena H. Sun

EMBEZZLEMENT CASES

Secretary Admits To Taking $131,000

A secretary to the Air Force chief of chaplains at Bolling Air Force Base pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $131,000 from the government.

Maria R. Hartline, 53, of Vienna admitted using a government credit card for personal purchases, submitting fraudulent claims for overtime and vacation pay, and requesting voucher payments for personal trips. Hartline acknowledged using co-workers' and supervisors' computer passwords to avoid having to get approval for her false claims.