The Detroit times., 1910-01-24

of ordinance complaints resulted In
congestion, Judge Connolly suggested
q plan which has done away with the
congestion. We have had excellent
support from the courts think. too,
that the newspapers have been very
fair | expected crltlcism-it had 10
come But welcome fair. honest criti-
cism II does LOT OF good.
THE kind OF criticism that | don't
regard as good for the department Is
the kind TO disrupt discipline in the
department-to make one man say
about another: That fellow has been
shown up or That man isn't it, +"
but If fair criticism should result
in such q condition? II the criticism
should be of state of affairs that
does exist, and Is known to exist, even
to yourself?" was suggested.
THAT is fair criticism" replied the
commissioner.
This ordinance business will adjust
itself" he added But even though
there have necessarily been instances
where 1t has been oyerdone the gen
eral public favors H. You would be
surprised II you knew the number of
complaints that | get, personally, over
my telephone People call up, asking
that | send officers TO make complaint
about this, or that. This morning.
one would think that | had nothing
To do but see that sidewalks We're
cleaned.
Officers are no. supposed to try
for records in complaints. They are
tn al 70, I'D Win
first, and only In cases OF stubborn re.
fusal TO cheerfully comply with the
ordinance is complaint supposed TO
be made. The men will work around
10 that new. Az the outset OF every
new system there is more or less
confusion.
You've got to show the people that
you are in earnest. Take this anti
cigarette law, for instance II we
simply announced that the law was in
force, and would be enforced. Il
wouldn't do any good. | believe In
going right after them.
Get a few cases. depend upon tho
courts TO make an example. which will
inspire a wholesome respect for tho
law. Then the violators start think
ing. Well. | guess | had better get
&c cover.
"As to dressing up the men OF the
department, | wanted them TO be neat
and clean, so that they could COM
mand the respect. not only OF the
small boy but OF the housewife and
the business man. They are ordered
To be polite and pleasant to every
body. AS to the order against their
gossiping. that has always been on
the regulations | enforced IT. be-
cause | believe there was too much
cabling
But many OF the policemen took
II literally. to the extent that they
don't keep in touch with people on
their beats Don't you think they
ought TO talk enough to people on
their beats. to learn how the land
lies; where certain hang-outs are.
and the habits and customs OF certain
people they may have to deal with
~ certainly think that is In the
line of policeman's duty" said the
commissioner. "A policeman 10 ex-
pected to do just those things, In the
performance of his duty II they take
the order against Cabling too liter
ally, as an order for not talking at all.
they make mistake. On the other
hand, IL they are given free rein.
there will be too much gossiping for
the good OF the police business.
These alley jobs are a bad thing.
I'm going to give them a lot OF at
tention. Frankly. | don't know much
about this police business-the run
ming down of crooks--but | am going
to learn.
THE department has gone through
lot of method. At the start OF
such changesc. you've got to have
some confusion. But things are go
Ing to work out all right"
Or. c. r. Walsh opens an Office.