The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-05
Need of Police Women-Their Fitness
for. Certain Kinds of Work-Em-
pIoyed in Many cities-Women's
Courts.
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. James Donahoe.)

is Lnofe n6oQ OF pOuceWOmen IL
so how great is the need and what
good could few capable policewomen
accomplish? The time was when such
questions were not discussed in the
leading Catholic papers. Today social
problems are receiving much more
attention than in the past. Our lead
ing men and best women are deeply
interested in civic uplift movements,
and are taking active part in matters
where the strong arm of the law is,
or may be, invoked to reach a desired
goal.
One does not need to be suffra-
gette to see the good to be accom-
plished by brainy, virtuous women
who would make judicious use of
police powers. The progressive
citizen does not regard a police officer
as a mere arrester Of those who will
fully break statutory laws. A police
man is of little value to a city if he
does not concern himself about the
moral betterment of men and women
who have become law-breakers, and
of boys and girls who have begun to
shake off civic and moral restraint A
well-organized police force under the
direction of an exemplary and COM
petent head is recognized power for
good in any community. In late years
there have been found many evidences
of desire on the part of the police
departments to contribute an appre-
ciable quota to the moral betterment
of people who make police protection
necessary. We find plain-clothes men
detailed for work in connection with
societies for the prevention of cruelty
to children, Juvenile protective asso-
Citations, probation Offices and other
recognized agencies for the suppress.
sion of vice, the direction of the
delinquent, the improvement of homes
and the checking of the young who
have started on the, downward path.
Late Investigations in regard to the
causes that lead to life of sin have
resulted in serious thought being
given to moral problems. The con.
clusion reached by many is that the
judicious and untrammelled exercise
of state and municipal authority would
lessen both poverty and crime. Facts
cleaned during late Investigations,
added to knowledge heretofore pos
sessed, show that there are things in
the municipal house-cleaning and GER
tain kinds of correctional and direc.
tive work which can be far better
done by a woman than by a man
There are matters regarding the safe,
guarding and reformation of girls that
should be attended to by women and
by women alone.
Special Fitness of Police Women.
The policewoman is much more
likely than her star-decorated brother
to have her moral Indignation aroused
by crimes against unprotected girls
and, in her official capacity, will be
more determined to put the pandere1
and the pimp behind state prison
bars. 1t is a matter of record that
| ~
in a city and continue their nefarious
business after they have become
known to some members of the police
force. Worse than that, some Of those
sworn to enforce the law have
pocketed a very considerable sun
for permitting the basest kind of Grim
inals to carry on their wicked work
The policewoman has more sym
pathy for the abused wife of the
drunken husband, and is less likely tt
permit herself to be hampered il
fixing legal responsibility upon those
whose business degrades SO man!
men and wrecks countless homes
She can and does succeed much better
than a man in regulating places O
amusement, both public and private
complete direction of wayward girls
and where an efficient volunteer il
not easily found, juvenile cour
judge should be able to call to his ai(
a capable policeWoman.
The present day interest il
Travellers Aid work has brought tt
the public the knowledge of the gooC
that can be done by way of advising
strange girls and providing accommo
dations for them on their arrival in 8
big city. Some individuals have made
sacrifices and certain organizations
have gone to considerable expense tC
care for and direct unprotected
travellers. This kind of social &C
tivity has phase that can best bt
attended to by woman having police
powers; and it is very probable thai
in the near future every railroad depot
will be the scene of the efficient labort
OF policewomen who are assisted By
organizations now in the field.
PoIicewomen In Actual Service.
From cities where policewomen arr
employed comes highest praise foi
their work We are told that il