The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-19

BUFFALO. N. Y, June 19-All the
laws on the books will not go half
80 far in suppressing crime as kind
ly smile, a helping hand, and little
thought by the policeman on the beat.
| Chief Fred Kohler, Cleveland's
golden rule policeman" told the po-
lice chiefs convention here that his
policy had proved this in the Ohio
oitl
Chief Kohler believes in a man
any ma. provided he is, as Kohler him.
self puts IL, mot so very, very bad.
Kohler knew there weren't any laws
ii protect men who might be bad but
who needed kindness instead of kicks.
But he knew also that the policeman's
club doesn't have suchsp ower for law
and order as the friendly right hand
that holds the club.
So Chief Kohler over year ago
started a policy OF his own. He calls
1t common sense policy but the pei
pie in Cleveland say it is just another
way Of working the golden rule.
The law. he figured. didn't recognize
one man as different from another,
even IL one were a hardened criminal
and the other a first offender. Kohler,
being a policeman and good one.
knew the law here was wrong.
So he figured that his kind Of char
ity began right on the street. 1t was
up TO the bluecoat rather than the
bench or the bondsmen to save these
offenders and reclaim them into good
citizens.
In the first year of its workings,
Kohler told the convention, there
were 2o,333 less arrests than the pre-
vious year. In 1907. 30.41S arrests
we're made. and only 10,085 in 1908, a
reduction of 66.s per cent.
Real Crininsi 10 Punished.
But In Cleveland the real criminal
need expect no mercy from Chief Kohl
Ter or any of his men. The chief has
kindly face, ready either to smile or
| frown. He looks like Fighting Bob
Evans, and Is just as quick in action.
One night the chief was going home
late and saw a drunken man Keeling
In the street.
Here, my friend. what's the mat
teri" he asked the man. Where do
you -lixe2 Tell me. and II take you
home"
He told the chief where he lived.
and the chief, reaching his arm under
.
home. raped at the door and left him
with his family. Chief Kohler doesn't
want his policemen to do anything
more than he himself would do. The
men know II as they know the differ
ence between a misdemeanor and
crime.
If man loses his way IL Cleveland,
Kohlers bluecoats apply the golden
-rk. \ oil tnlx nd
will go 10 trouble to help the stranger
along.
Street car conductors sometimes get
into disputes with passengers. Usually
there is scuffle. and sometimes
fight Put not In Cleveland.
The Golden rule policeman acts as
an umpire before he tries to arrest
man. He hears both sides Of the case.
tells the wranglers what to do and
they do It.
For a great many years" said
Chief Kohler. the police In Cleveland
had done as police do everywhere
with petty offenders and bad boys-wc
ran them In
II found daily In police stations
relatives and friends In tears seeking
the release OF some prisoner who,
when inquired, proved TO be not so
very. very bad. In police court the
next day | saw old, feeble parents,
weeping wives and very often other
children clinging at their sides. there
70 witness the degradation OF those
they loved.
Duty is to Save Them.
and what was the result? "A hasty
trial. and. since the offense USUALLY
was trivial the prisoner was discharg-
ed Good, But all that suffering was
I'm vain.
Now | finally concluded It was our
first duty not 10 help these unfortun-
ates on their downward course. but To
save them.
cit seemed 10 me II was up to the
police to learn to know the difference
between a thief and a rnischievous
man or boy.
Upon these thoughts my policy was
formed. -,
And this golden rule policy Is still
reducing arrests and reducing crime
In Nav this year there were fewer ar
rests than In any previous month In
90 years history OF police activity IN
| Cleveland Out OF sec arrests In May,
tOnly 81 in the sixth city or the United
States were for felonies.
AS Kohler says THE American
policeman is the first and best Judge
An the people in Cleveland believe
he is right.