Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-28

of a character that is not attractive to
many men. They are daily, almost
hourly, brought in contact with the
corrupt, the vicious and the sordid side
of life. and it is hardly to be wondered
at that they sometimes yield to the I'M
wholesome influences which surround
; them.
This makes it necessary for the heads
of the department, particularly the
mayor of the city and the chief of po-
lice, to exercise a sleepless vigilance to
see that honest and conscientious eff
forts on their part are not thWarted by
their subordinates. On them they must
keep as close watch as they are sup
posed to keep on the public.
1t is useless to say that crime and
immortality do not exist in Los Angeles,
because its existence is acknowledged
in every city where it is necessary to
organize a police force. Every city is
more or less wicked, and, admitting
this, the question that confronts the
new administration is can crime and
immortality be abolished?
The answer appears to be very APP
parent. Crime and immortality cannot
be abolished, but they can be abated
and controlled, if the city and state
laws are properly enforced.
Changes Are Necessary
1t is to this task then that the adj
ministration must devote itself, and
in order to secure the best results
along these lines it is believed that
there will necessarily be made changes
nthe personnel and assignments of
number of the members of the depart
ment.
That changes are desirable in the
detective department is admitted. Some
weeks ago it was the intention of the
liz,
a number of changes in the personnel
of the force. Other and weightier mat
ters affecting the department arose and
prevented the making of these changes.
AT the best the changes then contem-
plated were but the removal of an
effect 1t is believed that in the con-
templated reorganization of the depart
ment the cause will be removed as
we'll as the effect.
The detective department of the city
, of Los Angeles is a disorganized one.
Political pickering and official jealousy
nearly has destroyed whatever semb-
| lance of order and efficiency it ever
possessed, and while it is recognized
that Capt Paul Flammer, the head of
the department. is an old and expert
enced officer, it is pointed out that in
the handling of men he is .lamentab1y
weak and that discipline is a negligible
quantity 1t is believed that about one
force will be removed from their pres
ent positions and placed on beats as
patromen, and that others will be
dropped from the department entirely.
That this would work to a decided ad-
vantage is recognized by those best
acquainted with the inside working of
this bureau of the police department
With a new captain of detectives, and
new and more enthusiastic blood in
jected into this branch of the service,
it is believed results and not written
reports will be the rule.
| That there also will be changes in the
patrol department is believed. That a
number of changes would work for the
good of the department is beyond
doubt.
Must Give UP Orgies
The day is passed when the police
men, whether the patrolman on the
beat, the sergeant on his rounds or the
commanding officer on watch, can act
as guide and protector of visitors to
the redlight district and secure for
them participation in such orgies as
would cause decent men to blush for
the fame of their city.
Nor can a policeman anv longer as
sst in raiding a poker game in one
section of the city, and Immediately af-
ter his release from his tour of duty
HE himself away to another game
where, with choice spirits, he violates
all night long the law he is sworn to
enforce.
So has the time passed when police
patrolman or police official can give
aid and protection to a den of vice
make it his resort for company and his
boarding house at meal times.
All these things have happened in
Los Angeles but with the election OF
George Alexander they have gone, new
er to return There are still left as
members of the police department some
men who have done just csOse things,
and that promotion will come to them
or position remain with them is not be-
lieved.
There are scores on scores of mem
bers of the Los Angeles police depart
ment who, since their connection with
the force, have performed their duties
to the best of their ability and honestly
and conscientiously. In the probable
shake-up of the department these men
have nothing to fear, for it is believed
to be the policy of Mayor Elect Alex
ander to disarrange the order of things
as little as possible and to make re-
movals and changes only for cause and
5 the good of the service.
p A week before the election of last
y Friday it would have been a safe wager
A that the vast majority of the members
Of the police department would vote
) against Mayor Alexander.
I Election day showed a majority of
d the members lined up for him. Careful
n thought over their past experiences
d with the administration swept out of
k office convinced them that a vote for
: Alexander was a vote for their better
ment.
The police officer can now safely go
n to his home or to his duty without
!. having the favored life insurance agent
S of the administration waiting on him
- with d receipt for a policy he does not
want but is fearful to refuse Nor will
|. he have to buy oil or sugar stock, or
4 special kinds of cigars and liquors, or
Y wink at violations of the law in saloons
v and cafes which have heretofore en-
i joyed immunity from police inter-
V ference even in the most fragrant
s cases.
e Altogether the election of Mayor AL
. exander has worked good for the
r policeman and it win work good for the
/ law. The changes in the department
Y which may be made will be for the
, benefit of the department and the law