South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-25
X X X X X X X X X x X X X
x LETTERS OF THE PEOPLE y
X X X X !: X !: X X X X X =
GIVE CHIEF KERR 4 CHANCE.
South Bend, June %, /

GIVE CHIEF kERR y CHANCE.
South Bend, June %, 1914.
Editor News-Times:
Thoughtful citizens must view with
no slight regret the demoralized con-
dition of the city police department.
The police problem is always a serious
one but the present administration has
apparently invited the conditions that
are making the department joke and
its supervision a farce. The board of
safety began by naming a chief that
has not been permitted to become
chief, even if he possessed the train
ing and necessary fitness for the place
Having named an inexperienced man
as chief, common sense would have
suggested surrounding him with eX-
perienced men of known ability. But
| the board chose to handicap the de-
partment by naming Johnnie Kuespert
as chief of detectives with apparent
authority broader than that of the
chief.
Mr.. Kuespert had but slight expert
ence as a policeman. He had shown
no special ability as an officer. His
only claim to distinction was that he
was opposed to Patrick Joyce as a
candidate for the democratic nominal
ton for mayor His inexperience and
want of judgment has been evidenced
in a dozen ways since he assumed Of
flee.
But Kuespert is the right hand
man of the board and particularly of
Mr. Augustine. One rarely hears of
Chief Kerr; it is always Kuespert who
seems to command. This condition
OF divided authority would destroy the
discipline of any department, but the
hoard content Thew formed
some sort of working arrangements
with Tom Reed and his bunch of al
legged detectives. These alleged sleuths
have been permitted to do much of
the work that the regular force would
have had a pride in doing 1t is also
rumOred THAI under instructions of Mr.
Augustine these amateurs have trailed
the regular force spying upon certain
members OF the department. The re-
suit is a condition of mutual distrust
and consequent disOrganizaion The
situation is rapidly growing worse and
cannot improve without a radical
change in administrative policy.
4 competent chief clothed with alb
solute authority, sustained by a board
wise enough TO keep out of matters Of
detail is the one necessity of an eff
cient police force. The rank and file
of the department is composed of good
men. leadership and direction are
netueQ. 4 HIS lcduGA snip SlAOutu NC III
the chief alone. A leadership divided
between Chief Kerr, Kuespert. Angus
tine and Reed can only lead to chaos.
We mention these things for the
good of the city-nOt merely TO criti-
ciZe. There is enough current con-
demnation of the department TO satisfy
the most venomous of Mr.. keller's pO-
litical enemies. But houses are be-
ing robbed. men are assaulted and
robbed on the streets; pickpockets in
fest the city-and if arrested are re-
leased: soliciting women swarm the
streets; the innocent are arrested and
the guilty proceed TO crime with inn
punity and , situation is presented that
calls for Intelligent action.
If Mr.. Augustine will divorce him
self from Mr.. Reed and abandon the
attempt 10 be chief II the board will
I limit Johnnie Kuespert TO the duties OF
/ his particular office; If they will per
NIT Chief Kerr to make good II he
I can and remove him if he fails, some
/ progress will be made toward elm
+ mating the present perpleXins prob
7 lens.
Chief Kerr deserves a chance 10
make good: but TO make good he needs
authority and responsibility. Messrs.
I kuespert Augustine and Reed are
now sharing the responsibility and 10y
the same token the authority.
Nothing but needing the money
I could warrant a self-respecting man
+ TO retain an empty title. Until ne Tails
down. no man deserves the humiliation
Z visited upon the chief and when he
/ falls down he should resign or he
fred The present chief has not even
been given chance 10 fall down and
is entitled 10 "A chance TO make good
F The police department is too import
ant TO lee made a plaything or q Joke
NJ 4. 3.