The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
GOLDEN RULE WILL
GUIDE PATROLMEN
Famous Cleveland System OF
Good Will to All Men Adopted
by Head of Department

BERKELEY, Dec. 25.--A policy of
Peace on earth, good will to men, for
the entire year has been adopted by
Chief of Police vollmer of the Berkeley
department and announcement was
made appropriately this Christmas day
of the adoption by the department of
the Golden Rule or common sense"
method of police work. The system
which had its inception in the depart
ment at Cleveland, Ohio. and was con-
ceiyed by chief Kohler is the talk of
civic reformers throughout the United
States
Under its rules and regulation, apply
ing to misdemeanors, arrest is rarely
resorted to, and only as q last effort to
straighten out the tangled difficulties
of man and man. Street brawls, cases
of intoxication and other minor matters
come under the system and the patrol
man is to act as a peace maker and
guider to the paths of rectitude.
BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY
The burden of responsibility in the
new plan is thrown on the men of the
force. They are to act with Judgment
and wisdom and make arrests in minor
matters only as q last resort to pre-
serve peace.
They are to assist intoxicated men to
their homes unless they are beyond all
reason; they are to patch up family
troubles in which the police are called
to make an arrest; they are to caution
violators of the city ordinances and
only make arrests on the repetition of
the offense. Particularly the police are
not to arrest children.
The plan calls for the patrolman's
efforts to smooth over all difficulties be-
tween man and his fellow man, and
between man on the one hand and his
city or state on the other. In no case
will the system, however, extend to
other than misdemeanors, and it will be
ineffective as far as gambling and a
violation of the liquor laws of this city
are concerned
RESULTS IN CLEVELAND
The Golden Rule scheme has had
marvellous results in Cleveland, and in
one years operation reduced the num-
ber of arrests from more than 10000 to
about 10000. The saving of the citys
money by the decrease in arrests is
obvious. The minor cases. as rule,
provide but little income in fines and
forfeitures, yet take up a greater part
of the time of the police and judiciary.
With smaller cases left almost exclu-
sively in the hands of the patrolman on
the beat, the main work of the depart
ment will be in the detection of real
criminals whose apprehension is of
the greatest moment to a community.
Chief Vollmer adopted the golden
rule plan only after thorough investiga-
ton covering several months. He pre-
sented the scheme to the council and
was highly complimented for his fore
sight. The common sense plan is in
line with the improvements made by
the Berkeley chief since he took Office
several years ago. He is said to have
one of the finest departments of any
city in the United States.
THE GOLDEN RULE
The general order.ereatng the golden
rule plan issued today follows:
Officers and Patrolmen, Berkeley Police De-
partment.
Gentlemen 1 respectfully desire to call
your attention to the success that has at
tended the adoption of what is commonly
known as the golden rule policy of the
Cleveland police department, and 1 earnestly
request Your assistance In the practice Of the
policy in our beautiful city. Be
fore the adoption Of this common sense plan
rests made for the year. and in 1905 under
the rule only 100S5 arrests were made,
decrease of 66 2-3 per cent Most of these
for serious crimes. This is a decided
step forward, since it entails less unneces-
sary punishment. fewer men taken from their
business TO serve as jurors ana witnesses IN
minor cases and gives officers more time to
devote to the prevention of serious crimes
and the punishment of real criminals.
In order that you may understand the pur-
pose of this work quote from Chief Kohlers
report at the last convention of police chiefs:
I'VE first realized that to make it success
kindly feeling would be essential to IFS
official administration, and finally de-
fermined that the following considerations
should govern our actions.
.sFirst-Jnyeniles were to be placed
in prison. They TO be taken home or the
parents sent for and the child turned over
10 them for parental correction
"Second-The members of the force are to
use their kindly efforts in easing the friction
and i'll temper between man and man
wherever and whenever it makes itself mani
fest
.sThird-rhat the best policeman is he who
manages the offenders with the least show
of display and authority.
s'Fourtt-That some men fall through I'M
fortunate circumstances and not GRIM
inals at heart and should be treated accord
ingly in which case the best results might
be accomplished.
..Fffth-Oficers should have evidence of A
competent character to secure conviction be-
fore even considering the Imprisonment of a
person on any charge whatsoever.
'.Sixth-Any apparent violators who are
not known to be of good character and repu-
tation are TO be accompanied to the station.
where the matter shall be carefully inquired
into by tho officers in charge
The above rules are intended to apply
specifically to misdemeanors state laws and
city ordinances You are particularly in
structed. however. that all violators of liquor
and gambling laws are to be prosecuted as
vigorously in the past.
The details of the plan will be discussed
at the next regular meeting of the members
Of this department. December 81 1909 at
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