The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-29
M'ADOO DEFENDS POLICE.
SOMETIMES, HE SUGGESTS, THE
DIFFICULTY IS IN THE COURTS.
Convictions Rest with the Courts the
Police Can Only Take the Initiative
Letter Sent 10 the Municipal club
Dinner In Brooklyn Last Evening.


Police Can Only Take the Initiative
Letter Sent TO the Municipal club
Dinner In Brooklyn Last Evening.
The monthly dinner OF the Municipal
Club Of Brooklyn was given at the Clarendon
Hotel in that borough last evening. Herbert
L. Bridgman was POSTMASTER. After the
dinner Mr.. Bridgman announced that
Police Commissioner McAdoo had been
expected to attend and make an address
on the police situation, but he had found
il impossible to visit Brooklyn and instead
had sent a letter. The letter was read
II was in part as follows:
As the police government Of this city Is one
in which most people are interested, It is,
naturally, a subject Of much criticism, just
and unjust From my own experience here
think that much Of the unjust criticism arises
from an acceptance Of certain current state
ments as facts when, IN many, cases, they are
not So Criticism based on allegations which
would not bear investigation u Nelueless
and pernoogs IN IA R hnn degree d For er,a lh
quarters that the police levy systemalic
backmail upon various persons and interests
Now, whatever may have been true OF this
in the past. / can positively say that such
an assertion at this time Is absolutely ana
unquslifedly untrue. ] have never replied
i do so in the future, because it would be
simply a waste Of time The louder the
denial, the more emphatic the Teiter,aatlon;;
proving a negative. In addition 70 all this,
no Police Commissioner who attends TO any
portion OF the duties here will have the time
or inclination 20 engage In controversies
agitators whose interests in the question
are obviously far removed from disinter-
ested concern for the public good.
There il another basis Of criticism which
do not think quite fair TO the police, Ia a
the whole responsibility for the enforcement
OF the law on the police force without paying
any regard whatever 10 the actions Of the
courts Vow. as a matter Of fact, in actual
practise the police can only take the initiative
In the enforcement Of the law. for, in the
hnality. the conviction and punishment OF
offenders rests with the courts. Without
| their earnest and sympathetic cooperation
| the eNortions Of the police however jealous
and honest cannot secure a proper enforce
ment OF the law. II certain courts. for In
stance, show an apparent prejudice against
| the execution Of some laws, and as a matter
OF practise almost invariably discharge
offenders charged with infractions. the ener-
Ries Of the police are as much wasted as In
pouring water into a sieve and then expec-
ting lis retention ] am constantly receiving
reports from the police that. Ia he enforce
ment Of certain laws, they mCet with great
difficulties in the courts.
The attitude OF the police toward certain
fe Se5 from Tl R the cool and Collected judicial
examination Of the evidence presented
The police find organized intelligence. shrewd
yiolating certain portions Of the code Against
this cunning they have 70 match shrewdness
MAR bot tween the oricers OF the law and
those who live and thrive by breaking IT,
While. OF course, the police officer must be
eXceedin civ guarded in respecting the rights
OF persons and property, yet, In the light OF
this bitter and uuCeasing conflict, Il Is some
times diffCut for him to make nice dis
il morally certain are breaking the Law every
DAY or openly and brazenly defying the
great protective writs with which English
and American law have armed our courts
for the very proper protection OF the sacred
these difficulties the Borough OF BROOKLYN
shall remain as free from vice as / found
IL.
James MoKeen, president Of the Brook
lyn Ieague and member Of the Committee
OF Nine delivered an address on the Police
Problem He told Of the work that the
Committee Of Nine had done, and then
said
honest man at the head Of the Police De-
partment, and then almost every one wants
him to have daspotic powers. Happily
in one point Of view, this is the present
condition. Unhappily In another, because
the Legislature has now been persuaded 70
continue in the Police Department despotio
powers which hardly exist anywhere out
side Of Russia-poweIs which will plague
us when az is likely 10 happen, the depart
ment passes into the control OF some one
who is not honest and rot upright"
The speaker then referred 70 a section
OF the hin which the committee had framed
dealing with the question Of vice. Under
the bill this question was 20 have been
cared for by a bureau 10 be established
and in charge Of an inspector Of police.
Mr.. McKeen said that this part Of the bill
had been cut out by the Legislature. But, ,
he said, "the bill even in It's emascuated
condition will even accomplish much"
He then referred TO that part OF the bill
which will reduce TO the ranks the detective
sergeants promoted by the late Commits
sioner Murphy. He said the present de-
tectve bureau was an absuTdity and under
the bill IL was TO be abolished and the new
chief inspector, 10 be appointed a. called
for by the bill, would be enabled to pick
out the cream Of the department for deteo-
tive duty. BY this means, he argued that
the work Of the Committee Of Nine would
bring about great good In the department
and TO the benefit Of the people.