The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-26
HUMILIATING, BUT JUST.

How Inundated the good citizens of Salt
Lake were on Wednesday morning when
they read the following in the report of the
city council proceedings:
Whereas, This council recognizes that it is
the duty of the police department OF this city
to enforce strictly and impartially all the laws
and municipal ordinances. including those per-
tanning to gaming and houses of prostitution
and
whereas, By their neglect of duty in this par
ticular the chief of police and his subordinates
have brought and are bringing scandal upon
the administration of the government of the
city, and
Whereas Further, their neglect and dis
regard of their duty in this respect has been
made the occasion of judicial censure, and the
attempt on the part of the grand jury and
United States marshal to enforce territorial
statutes on this subject and
Whereas, This condition Of affairs Is to be de-
plored in that it tends to bring the municipal
government into contempt aud TO promote i'll
feeling and jealousy among Officers of the law
who should cooperate for the protection of the
citizens
Now, therefore, be it resolved, That it is the
sense of the council that the chief of police
should and he is exhorted that it is his duty to
enfsrce all the laws and ordinances of the city,
and in all lawful ways to assist in carrying out
the same, especially those relating TO the
offenses named above,
LSignedl F. H HYDE,
w. j. TUDDENHAM,
L. A. POLAND,
a. J. PENDLETON
NJ. K. PARSONS,
w. F. JAMES,
w. H. h. STAFFORD, 4,
R. w. YOUNG,
o. H. HARDY.
These whereases and resolution were
adopted by the almost unanimous vote of
the council, but two members voting no.
and one of these explaining that be was in
favor of the declaration and instruction
but was opposed to designating special of
lenses against the ordinances. Thus we
find the municipal legislature, without
regard to party politics, openly arraignin Q
the police department. for neglect of duty
and bringing the city into contempt and the
administrati on into disgrace. It's doubted
that at any time in any other city, such
proceedings were ever before taken, In
divldual members of a municipal govern
ment have denounced the police, but entire
councils have not heretofore found il
necessary to procla m the lawlessness of
the city in order to impress upon the police
department that crime is prevalent through
the neglect of the municipal constabulary.
We say the decent membe of the commu-
nifty were ashamed when they read the in
dictment, but nobody feels like ceusurinp
the council. On the contrary everybody
realizes that the presentment is true in
every count, and grieves because it is true
1t is occasion for sorrow as we'll as cha
grin that the city is so badly policed that
the council can indulge in such a severe
denunciation and nobody can rise up to dis
pute the allegations and present an excuse
for the neglectful officials.
1t will be observed that the arraignment
is of "the chief of police and his subordin-
ates." The latter, or good many of them
when charged with failure to enforce the
ordinances, are understood to excuse and
shield themselves behind their superiors.
saying they could not act except by direc-
ton of the department officials. 1t has also
been said that if policeman manifested
zeal In the matter of suppressing certain
crimes, he was changed to beats where
these offenses would not come under his
observation. What Of truth there is in
this we cannot say, but it is scandalous
that the stories go out and there is no at
tempt 1at refutation. The action of
the council, including the subordl-
mates, in the arraignment for neglect
indicates that the latter are held partly re-
sponsible for The awful condition of things
and should put the patrolmen who are
really eager to perform their duty upon
their mettle. We take it that the council
will stand by the policeman who makes
legitimate arrests Tor offenses on his beat
or within his knowledge, even though the
department officials do not give specific
orders for these arrests and do not want
the offenders interfered with. At any rate
the patrolman who knows what tho duty of
a police officer is and is willing to perform
that duty, should now feel that he has
the sanction and support of the council
and with that backing he eau afford to in
cur tho displeasure even of superior who
would stand between him and the at
tempted enforcement Of the law.
The HERALD hopes that the singing
censure administered by the council will
have an effect upon the police department.
and that hereafter the ordinances will he
enforced in such manner as to give the