The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-24
Former Mayor Defends His
Police Administration.
Says He Is Glad Jail Doors
Stood Aiar.
ALL Topeka IN PRISON SOON
Billiard Says Three-FOurths of
Adults Violate Laws.
Remainder as JailerS and PO-
licemen on Duty.

4
! In defense of the recently criticised
police department under his admins
tration and in spirit of philosophical
advice on the control of crime in To-
peka, ]. B. Billiard, former mayor,
wrote this letter to the State Journal
today.
1.-The crowded condition of the city
Jail has been given as the result OF
the successful law enforcement policy
of the present city administration. anG
as discredit and slur on the Billiard
administration. 1t is stated that not
a day has passed since Chief Hughes
took charge that many arrests have not
been made; that convictions before
Judge Huron have brought fines as high
as 800 for being drunk; that plain
DRINKS have been given SIS and other
offenses in proportion; that the major
ity are unable to pay these fines or to
get bonds and work them out on the
rock pile at the rate of 81 per day.
The statement is made May 20 that
not infrequently under the Billiard adj
ministration, days would pass during
which there were no arrests and the
cell doors would stand ajar at night,
as there was no one to be locked in
side
Il am glad that such was the case
days that the Jail was empty and that
still fewer arrests were not made. That
the city of Topeka, with $4,000 popula-
ton was kept so free from crimes and
criminals with so few arrests and so
few prisoners is the greatest compli-
ment that can be paid to former Chief
NJ. c. jenkins, the police judge, n. B.
Arnold and the police department and
am proud of such a record.
Not to Make a Showing.
Under the former administrat ton the
police department was run to prevent
crimes. protect persons and property
and not for the purpose of making
showing by many arrests and collect
ing heavy fines.
The Rev. c.. NJ. Sheldon in defining
the duties of the new policewomen,
states that they will not be expected
to make many arrests, but rather to
prevent crimes by assistance, education
and advice. Why not apply that rule
to policemen also? Is it not just as
important for policemen to prevent
crimes by advice and education among
men as for the policewomen to do so
among the women?
That is just what the instructions
were to all policemen under the former
administra ton. They were not expect
ed to arrest all guilty of trivial offenses
but to stop them by advice and warm
ing and arrest only for refusing to obey
cases of serious offenses, especially
where life or property was in danger
to be prompt and active in making ar
rests and show no mercy. For instance
during the first week that traffic men
were placed on Kansas avenue to make
people observe the rules of the road by
driving on the right side of street and
turning corners properly, they were
instructed to direct and instruct people
and warn them that they would be ar
rested if they did not observe the driv-
ing ordinance, but not to arrest unless
they refused to obey orders or repeated
The second week after people
had had ample notice the traffic men
were ordered to arrest all violators.
Now 1 think that even then the or
ders were probably too strict.
A Little severe With Rev. Gordon.
1T was during that second week that |
the Rev. Robt Gordon was arrested |
and fined So for riding on the wrong |
side of streets. Though neither the |
officer who made the arrest nor the |
police judge who fined him knew at the |
time that he was minister of the |
gospel. This light punishment aroused !,
the hatred of the Reverend Gentleman |
and thereafter he frequently made all |
kinds of false charges. ISLANDERS and |!
misrepresentat lions against the police |
and the mayor which was |
no credit to the city.
This SHOWS that strict enforcement
is not always for the best interest IF |
the community. Had the Rev. Gordon's
offense been overlooked by the police,
he would probably have continued 20
be a peaceful citizen. a friend of the
police and city administra ton and a
true teacher of real christianity and of
good will among men and brotherly |
love. If such slight punishment had
such an effect on an educated gentle
man and a disciple of the Prince Of
Peace. what effect will heavy fines and |
long terms on the rock pile have on
the ordinary and in many cases I'M
educated citizen?
1T is too common a practice by
nearly all police judges to try
to make a record by many convictions
and collecting a large amount of fines.
They assume that all persons arrested
are guilty and sentence them almost
without trial and on almost any evil
1ence; usually on the bare statement
Of the officer who made the arrest; |
who perhaps made the arrest on mere