Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-30


The proceedings taken by private individ-
uaIs against members of the police force
for arrests which were alleged to be un5us-
titled were you have seen IN the second
column, twelve in number, and the results
after trial in court, were as follows: Three
charges dismissed, officer fully acquitted;
two charges dismissed, with officer fully ac-
quilted and complainant required to pay
all of the costs: one complainant asked that
proceedings be discontinued the officer hav-
ing apologized; one plaintiff withdrew suit,
paying costs; in one case the court stopped
the proceedings as absurd and ordered
plaintiff to pay costs; one plaintiff awarded
damages to the amount Of one farthing,
each side to pay its own costs; one police
man convicted and ordered to pay costs;
one policeman convicted and fined 500 for
using more force than was necessary under
the circumstances; one policeman was fined
s. and sentenced to one months imprison-
ment
+ Thus it will be seen that the officers ac-
cused were INDICATED in more than half
OF the twelve cases in which complaints
were brought against them by individuals
OF the seventy-eight cases In which OIL
GERS were disciplined for unwarranted ar
covering proceedings brought by private In
dividuais. OF the seventy eight officers con-
yictea by court-martial before their supe-
riors seventeen were dismissed from the
service, fifty-two were suspended and the
remainder were reprimanded.
Best Force in the World.
That is a remarkable record and seems
to justify the assertion that London has
the best police force in the world. At the
same time 1t demonstrates the respect in
which the police are held by the people.
Very seldom is there a case of resisting an
officer. but the officers are instructed and
trained never to use force except IN an
emergency. Their orders are to give Offend
ers every reasonable opportunity to square
k@ I~~ a,a1a 20
the station or before the court unless they
have complete proof OF his guilt. The po-
liceman with the best record Is the one who
makes the fewest arrests; who has the
between citizens withcut bringing theI- be-
fore the magistrate or filing the cells OF
the station. The best officers never arrest
a man II they can help 1t. lf~he is drunk
they get him home as quietly as possible;
II he Is quarreling or fighting they cool
him off, talk to him in a friendly way and
persuade him to behave himself. Thus the
ambition Of every member OF the metropoli-
tan police is to have the smallest number
Of arrests placed to his credit that Is con-
sistent with good order on his beat. The
London public understands this policy and
recognizes the constable as the embodiment
and omnipotent power that rests in the I'M
written British constitution.
Respect for Law and Order.
and order as the Britons and the constable
in the street is the tangible and always
present representative Of law and order.
OF course. the personality of the men has
a great deal to do with it and they are
entirely worthy Of respect. Nearly all of
them are discharged soldiers. They have
learned valuable lesson in their military
experience and the dignity. the. discipline
and the sense Of responsibility Of the army
is carried into the police force.
Every one Of them is a native. A few
foreigners are employed in the detective de-
partment. but the constable. the man that
the public come in contact with. Is a
thoroughbred Briton. sometimes born on
the very beat he treads. Most of them
are honor men and wear medals for dis
tinguished gallantry and good conduct in
war. They are as far removed from poll
tics and political influence as they can
primarily to reward them for good serv-
ice in the army and they are retained
and promoted because of their efficiency
and for no other reason. They are subject
tons, and are constantly reminded of the
dignity and Importance Of their Office.
One cannot appreciate the personality of
a London policeman until he is seen in a
crowd or a mob. when his foreinger is as
potent as the sceptre Of a king The boat
race between Cambridge and Harvard at
forded a splendid test There were more
estimated the number at two millions
pushing and struggling to get places on the.
banks Of the Thames to see the boats go
by, and every street leading to the river
was packed with mass Of human beings.
London policemen always stand In the
middle of the street. They never step on
the sidewalk unless required to do so, and
at intervals of q few hundred feet in the
center OF every street that leads to the
river stood the majesty Of the law in his
modest helmet and belted jacket. When
ever nervous or excited citizen would try
Ito push through or would annoy his