Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
SHOULD Be REAL
HEAD OF FORCE
AWAY WITH CIVIL SERVICE,
HE SAYS
CAN ONLY MINIMIZE CRIME
Ex-Chlef Tells Needs Of Los Angeles
Department-More Men Are
Absolutely Necessary
He Asserts
CAN ONLY MINIMIZE CRIME

Oily I1dHllIlSll, uIlIu EIludy ClllSl
of police of Los Angeles, thumped the
table with his good right fist, and
looked straight out of his keen blue
eyes. He was talking of what police
chief must be-and what he mustn't.
which is equally to the point-and some
very pointed truths he was telling too.
Hammell has lived in Los Angeles,
man and boy, for 40 years. He came
here without any clothes on" as he
expresses it, and he has been here ever
since. He has held many offices in city
and county. and for seventeen months
past he has been showing Los Angeles
how the police department could be
conducted by man who had only 1t
and the city's interests at heart When
he found that he could no longer rule
it on this basis, he quit. In word,
that is why Los Angeles has no chief
of police now.
"All you can do" he went on, speak
ing earnestly and convincingly, "is to
minimize crime. You can never stop
IL altogether. Why, in town Of one
hundred persons, you will find crime.
What can you expect In city?
Chief Must Rule
"The way to suppress crime Is to
have the right sort of men on your
police force, and to handle them right.
1 believe in a through metropolitan
police force, under state laws. would
have the chief named for life, remov-
able only for misbehavior, and then
only after trial by twelve men. And
he would be a little czar. I would
have him name his own men and rule
them"
You don't believe in civil service,
them"
mot bit of it. Away with all
ously-"its all tommyrot.
why, how do we name policemen
now? We give 'em an examination,
and any kid out of school could beat
'em taking it. You couldn't answer
the book questions asked them, nor
could l. What has that to do with
the suppression of crime?
1.-THE police department now is po-
lltical machine. The men in it are
compelled to play politics to hold their
jobs. They should be relieved of all
that. The chief If he were made
solely responsible for his men, should
have their appointment, and should
say what they should do and what
beats they should walk. AS 1t Is now,
/ have seen a little list with the name
on it of every man dismissed or named
since 1 have held that office, and I
had nothing to do with either. What
sort of way is that to expect discip-
line from the men under me?
mo; cut out this civil service bust
ness, and make your chief the head
of the force, and require him to en-
force the laws. Then II he doesn't he
is responsible.
All They Ask Is a Fair Deal
"All the policeman asks is square
deal. Does he get it? Not much. He
is complained of if he doesn't enforce
the laws, and kicked at If he does.
What kind of a deal do you call that?
There is a law in this town that
business men must not wash their
walks after certain hours. An officer
arrested merchant for the violation
of that law not long ago, and the man
was furious. He came to me and COM
planned of the officer, In the most pro-
fame and brutal way. I called in the
officer, and told him that he had done
his duty, right before the merchant,
and then l told Mr.. Merchant what /
thought of his conduct. When he saw
my viewpoint, he apologized; that was
the least that he could do, wasn't it?
Policemen are human; they are men,
Just as are any other men. Give
policeman to understand that his job
depends solely upon doing his sworn
duty; that no politician can interfere
with him; that he doesn't have to play
politics to hold his place nor to fawn
or his fellow and all that, and you will
have a force that can't be beat. Now,
with every change of politics or admin
istration, the men have to get ac-
quainted with new heads, and to ascer-
tain Where tney SIanu. IL is all wrong.
That's why would make the chief a
permanent state officer, and the men
subject to him alone"
The ex-chief twirled rubber band
between his fingers as he talked, and
occasionally pulled at his moustache.
ais dark hair. just turned to grey,
rippled over his forehead, and his
handsome face showed his earnest
pess.
"Given such force, how would you
suppress crime in Los Angeles" he
was asked. Then came his answer,
already quoted:
"The man who tells you that crime
can be absolutely suppressed in any
metropolitan city is either a fool or
n liar. 1t can't be DONE"
Hammel frowned slightly as he an
swered. as If remembrances of some
rather disagreeable experiences along
that line came back to him. He had
enough, goodness knows, what with