The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-03
THE POLICE INVESTIGATION.

1t is to be regretted that the police in
vestigation which has been gong on for the
past few weeks was not conducted with
open doors. Had that course been pursued
the public would have known whether or
not the charges against the chiefs of the
department were sustained. AS it is there
is more or less doubt. Only fragments of
the testimony have bsen published, and
these seem to have been gathered from
witnesses on the street at odd times, and
Itrung together in hap hazSrd way, with
out effort TO make connected story. If
the inquiry was as badly iumbled and dis
connected as the published reports of the
testimony the surprise is that any two
members of the police committee were able
TO agree upon any sort of report.
The police ara the officials who
come in direct contact with the people, and
the latter should be fully informed as to
the character aud reliability of those
officials. We say that the inquiry should
have been public, the compliments and
accusers being free to present their case
in the most effective manner, and the &C
cused having equal freedom to defend
themselves by doing all they could to re-
flute the charges. Then the best judge
the public-would have been able to decide
between the two parties, giving a verdict
which could not have been appealed from.
However, enough has come to light
through the street talk and the two reports
presented to the council on Tuesday even
ing, to convince everybody that the police
department is in sadly demoralized state,
and should be at once reorganized. There
can be no dispute as to this. The patrol
men are at loggerheads among themselves,
and the majority of them are at outs
with their superiors. Favoritism is un-
doubtedly shown, some OF the policemen
being given better assignments than
others, and the officers making it a point
tc show their dislike Of certain patrolmer
who have incurred their displeasure. II
would also seem that tbs tempers OF some
of the officers are hasty and ungovernable
violent and profsne, and even filthy Ian
guage appears to be common.
We respectfully submit that so long as
the department is in its present condi
ton effective service cannot be per
formed and the public must suffe
in consequence There must b,
discipline or the service Will he faulty
and the discipline must not be that W hic
10 enforced by the superior in offic
haughtily lording it over the subordina ties
but that which is inspired by proper re
spect on the part Of the subordinate for hi,
officer There must also be confidence be
tween the men and between tho off GER:
of Qr itto4
unsatisfactory and unhappy state of affair,
that has prevailed for so long will con-
tinue.
Another thing which has been demon.
utrsted to the satisfaction OF the public i.
that while the compliments in the proceed
ings may not all be the right men in the
right places, the accused are clearly the
wrong men for the positions they occupy
They should be made to go and success sor
appointed who know better how to exer
else authority, who know how TO commanC
the confidence and respect of men, and VIII
will use language more in keeping with til
decencies and proprieties, to say nothin
of the law.
The council has not yet finished with ahs
business. 1t viii have another wrestle
with the reports at the next regular meet
ing. But to our way of thinking the cas-,
lie one for the mayor to handle. He is tn
chief executive officer OF the city and a
such is responsible to the people for In,
maintenance of proper police force. H
appoints the policemen and has power t
remove at pleasure. If an officer or po-
liceman is not doing his duty, is not a pro
per person for the position, is lacking i
the necessary qualifications, and the fact
come to the knowledge of the mayor. 1t /
the duty OF the latter to at once make
change. His honor must be aware of th