New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-18
ON POLICE CORRUPTION.
A TEXT GIVEN BY THE GRAND JURY

THE REV. THOMAS DIXON. JR, breaches FROM
1T AND SUGGESTS REMEDIES
Before the regular sermon in Association Hall ves
terday morning the Rev. Thomas Dixon, tr reviewed
the subject OF the corruption OF the police forces OF
great cities. lie spoke In part as follows:
The recent terrific indictment Of the whole poIca
Of the city New York by the Grand Jury is an
event in the history of modern municipal government.
1t is to be hoped that 1t will mark the beginning Of
new era In the civic life Of America.
"Mr. Henry NJ Tabor, foreman OF this remarkab.
Grand Jury, said in an interview after its sessions
that from evidence presented the jury thoroughly
convinced that there Is ut least 100000 coecte1
annually from the keepers Of gambling deDs, saoona.
concert halls and houses OF rcpue, and distributed
among the members Of the Police Department. say
least $7,00O,OoO for calculation shows that tho
amount is probably nearer S10,O0O,O00.'
lie declares that this accusation involves the In.
tegry Of the entire police force, from the recently
resigned Superintendent down TO the patroman.
This Is a grave charge. II cannot be laughed
down by the men accused. 1t cannot be answered BY
the assertion that the March Grand Jury an az.
gregaton Of Inmates. In fact while exclamation
points may be inevitable they not satisfactory
just TO the inquirng public.
There is in this official document much Of startling
suggestion 10 every great city In America.
Is the police power OF the State In our centres Of
life thus honeycombed with rotenness? II so, the
future life Of your civilization Is threatened. And no
man who loves his neghbor and his country afford
to be indifferent TO such situation.
How TO keep pure police force Is certainly q
serious problem.
And the Christian public Is somewhat to blame for
this fact The temptations in the way Of a policeman
10 do wrong are well nigh resisess to the ordinary
man.
In the first place. they cut of from the associa-
ton and sympathy Of the good. They get few SYM
pathetic hand grasps from their neighbors They can.
not 20 to church often. As class Of men they are
utterly neglected by those who seek to help and save
their fellowmen. There friendly inns built for
their comfort, though they live life of dams and ex-
posure We try to the wretch in the ditch. but
have no sympathy help for the heart OF the becOat
who tramps his beat and sin and crime and misery
until his eyes and and very heart at last become
saturated with IT, Familiarity with vice MAKES it
well nigh inevitable that the officer himself will at last
succumb to some form OF 1t. The saloon Is always
open and here the policeman finds his friends and
finds Fellowship. The way downward is made easy
for him. The way Of virtue and honesty and Christian
MA nho0d is we'll nigh impossible
In my soul OF souls synpathile with these men.
I thaDk God am not called 10 tramp p)cemans
beat and touch crime and vice and sin and tempta-
ton at every corner. We need not be surprised II
now and then policeman is guilty Of brutality and
OF assault upon innocence. such things Inevitable
I'm the very nature Of such situation But when the
whole force and the whole system Is honeycombcd
with a scheme OF whosesale blckmal and bribery the
time has come for action by the whole community.
THE foreman OF the grand jury further declares that
witnesses are afraid to tell the truth They fear for
their lives II they testify against the police and these
chronic criminals He said that witnesses who could
give satisfactory evidence against the keepers Of dis
orderly resorts were deferred from doing 50 BY fear
Of calling down tie vengeance Of the parties exposed
q vengeance in the execution Of which the police would
afford every opportunity and assure absolute protec-
ton How utterly pless Is the public when guarded
By such force!
1t was discovered the other day that an ex-polce
~ ptain-now retired half pay-was sheet writer
ia u gambling hell. Retiring from acuve police duty,
be- seems naturally have graviatod - this den OF
gamblers business IL Is 10 Violate and defy law
Mat Is the remedy for such Il condition
First-It seems 10 me that the Christian conmu-
1ity should get closer personally u the police force.
Ne should know them better. Reading rooms and
ibraries should be established for their beneht while
Jf duty where they could ind decent friendship ana
These men need more Christian SYM
'athy and help than any class In the community ana
hey get less. The consequence is that many OF them
,ecome inndels and scepucs.
Second-The dirty politicians back Of the system
must be robbed Of their power; The policeman preys
10Th the policeman and the criminal, aud drives them
andem 10 his triumphal cart.
Thrd-ln the present corrupt condition Of things
Is necessary. a revolution is sometimes necessary,
organize law and order societies Of such invncble
tcneth that q complete police system can. M last
or awhile be maintained Dr. Parkhursps society
nd all such organizations should be 20 strengthened
" men and money that the regular force cannot pro-
ect when they desire. and therefore carry
manhood aud money into these societies untl 4
formal condition OF order can be attained in a PARTED
ouce force Then put District Attorney In office
rho has clean hands and who hasn't sold out before
lie election.