The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-11-15
THURSDAY, NOV. IS, 1900.
Our Police Protection.


greater or less magnitude, that have
made Kenosha famous throughout the
State during the past year or two.
Thus early reports are rife of hold ups,
shop lifting and attempted burg1aries.
With the same monotonous regularity
comes the report from police head
quarters that no trace can be found of
the perpetrators of the crimes, and no
Roadway made against the mischief.
In other words, unless the citizens of
the city organize themselves into a
vigilance committee for mutual protec-
ton, they must again be made the vic
TINS of the operations of this gang.
The question naturally arises, what
is our police protection good for? 1t is
a protection that does not protect. We
fail to recall an instance in which there
have been any arrests or prosecutions
for the numerous thefts committed
about the city. The police have in
variab1y been unsuccessful in running
down any of the offenders.
Where is the trouble? Even if we
assume that the officers of the police
are the best possible for the position
and that they are most di1igent in
their work, there will still remain
justification, or at least extenuation,
for the police department if some of
the miscellaneous thugs and house
breakers who make Kenosha their ia
vored haunt manage to escape deteC-
ton.
Kenosha covers a considerable eX-
tent of territory. From the lake shore
fully mile and a quarter to the west,
and from it's extreme southern limits
more than two miles northward, it's
dwellings are scattered. 1t has pop
ulation of probably 1900. This rath-
er extensive territory and not incon-
siderable population is under the
watchful eye of half dozen police,
three at a time, when they are rot
otherwise engaged. Is the number
anywhere near adequate?
1t is only too apparent to any reason
able man that the number of police
should be increased if Kenosha is to be
Iii any way protected. Police cost
money, and in order to gain the where
withal 10 put the police department en-
the proper footing it is necessary that
the finances Of the city be put on far
frnler basis than they are at the pres
ent time. There are certainly many
men in Kenosha who are able to
administer it's affairs in such bust
nesslike manner as to remove the
EN- Embarrassment that the city has been
working under during the present ad
zniristration. At the coming election
the citizens of the city should elect a
Common Council of such character.
Until it becomes possible for the city
to enlarge it's police department every
effort should be made that might con-
tribute to the better protection of the
city. In the first place let chief of
police be appointed who will not shut
one eye to his duty. Let him have
corps of officers whom he may depend
upon to give him efficient service.
Ia this city it is invariably claimed
that local talent is responsible for
much of the offense. There are GER
tain we'll known individuals in the
city who are generally acknowledged
, to be either the perpetrators, or abet-
tors, in these crimes. 1t is claimed
that they are continually watched by
the police, but have successfully
e1uded them thus far. If these men
are so cunning as they are thus credit
ed with being, they are all the more
dangerous, and it becomes all the
more imperative to get rid of them.
There are men in the city who are
capable of dealing with such charac-
tiers. They should at least be given a
trial.
If it is true, as it undoubtedly is,
that tramps are concerned in the out
1awry, there are means that have been
tried successfully in other towns, of
discouraging the visits of this class to
the city. A work house, or some other
means of bringing the Weary Willie
into contact with his nightmare of
work, would prove eficacious in keep
ing him away from this locality.
Kenosha is in need of many innova-
tons in the mode of tits city govern
ment. Some improved police protec-
ton it must have. To make this
possible it must have a thorough,
economic and husiness1ike administra-
ton. Until that is secured there is no
hope of an improved police department.