New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
A sENsELEsS ATTITUDE.

II would be hard to imagine any
thing more picayune and senseless
than the attitude Of the heads OF the
Police Department toward the alder
manic investigating committee. This
committee not only has a right OF &C.
cess to all records of the department
and all information the policemen can
furnish. but 1t is the duty Of the police,
from the newest patrolman TO Commits
sioner Waldo, TO help the committee.
Indeed, they should consider II privi-
iege to furnish any help within their
power. Generous and loyal public SER
wants should be willing to cooperate
with any official body to bring about
Improvement in the city's business,
and even the heads Of the Police De-
partment cannot be blind TO the fact
that Improvement in police methods Is
much needed. An official statement
from the department which says that
any records or testimony OF any en-
ploye may be had by the committee
through proper procedure looks much
better than 1t really is when coupled
with Deputy Commissioner McKay's
insistence that the committee subpoena
documents and witnesses. or course
witnesses would respond to subpoena
and probably even the Police Depart
ment would turn over its records, but
insistence on that course would waste
time prevent accomplishment Of much
good work by the aldermanic commit
fee and be an exhibition Of pigheaded-
ness.
Tndoubtedlv the feelings Of Com
missioner Waldo and Of every man in
uniform have been badly lacerated by
the bideous disclosures Of police incom-
petency. corruption and lawbreaking.
Possibly some Of the resultant criticism
10 which the police force and It's chiefs
have been subjected has been unjust.
That is no excuse for the present
course There are hundreds of honest
men in the department. striving TO DO
their duty faithfully, under great Diff
Guilty always. Those men will well
come any change which will make
their work easier and relieve them or
great burden of suspicion. 1t Is only
fair to them that every faciilty De
given to the aldermanic committee and
ANYBODY else who may be able to sug-
qest changes for the better In the
working Of the police machine. There
are also In the Police Department law
|. breakers and grafters, who disgrace
their uniform and the city they pre-
tend TO serve and faint everything
they touch. They flourish because or
ignorance and incompetence within the
department, faults in personnel and In
the routine OF the bureau, OF which
they take advantage TO pursue their
corrupt WAYS. Ignorance, procraStlna-
ton. red tape In the daily workings
of the Police Department help them.
Antaronism to investigation from the
outside protects them and strengthens
them IN their belief that "the system
Is stronger than the law and public
decency. From tina beginning of the
Recker case the characteristic attitude
az police officials has been evasion
concealment, secrecy. The defendant
who resorts to palpable technicalities
for defence condemns himself SO far
az the public is concerned, and the
Police Department has been placed In
the position Of a defendant resorting
70 technicalities. Evasion and secrecy
win help no honest man in that de-
partmsnt, and no honest man. unless
an ass. will resort to such tactics.