Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-07
POLICE NEWSPAPER
WARNS AGAINST GRAFT
Official Organ of Local De-
partment Cites Becker Case
as Example.

A significant warning to petty gratters
on the Philadelphia police force. based on
a discussion of the Becker case, Is issued
In the latest edition Of THE Sentinel"
published weekly by the Bureau Of Po-
lice. The warning is in the form OF an
editorial, which was written by Louis l..
Austin. the editor, who is assistant sec
retary to Director Porter.
The editorial expresses the opinion that
the whole history OF the Becker case
should certainly aid materially in elimi-
mating many OF the vicious evils which
have been fostered In the police bust
ness" After pointing out that the muir
| der OF Herman Roeenthal was the climax
that aroused a smouldering public con-
science In New Iork, the editorial says:
such condition existing In Philadel-
phia is almost unbelievable, II not Inn
possible. The moral tone and the rela-
tions existing between the citizen and
the parrolman at the present time are
! such as to Immediately arrest in its in
| cipiency any suspicion OF rottenness In
the police department.
1T is, perhaps. well that the public is
| quick to condemn a grating policeman,
but the more should be their appreciation
when an honest police force Is provided
them. The Sentinel does not attempt to
say that there is no grating among the
| Philadelphia police. In fact, II one were
to attempt to prove such a statement
he would doubtless find himself in er-
| ror
But a policeman who, under the pres
| ent conditions. thinks so little of him
! self and the good name Of the force as
| to graft, is so small that he is not NJ
| n NtaNz ,,.4NI -. "a
| by his fellow patrolmen, Just as he is
hated and despised by the people from
whom he exacts the money or its equiv
alent. A grating policeman is the worst
possible stigma to body of men, and
| especially so to the Philadelphia police
force. than whom there probably was
not a better class of men. A grating
policeman is an unendlng disgrace tC
himself, and It is just his type that
causes many people to carry a sneer and
knowing look on their faces when they
hear any one speak of an honest police
force.
Sergeant Timothy Cavanaugh, knowr
all over the city as Honest Tim,' upor
the completion of his 2Oth year of serv
ice In the sth District was asked as to the
manner in which he secured the cog
nomen. He replied. in effect, L reall,
don't know. 1 did nothing out Of the or
dlnary. l ams no more honest than m,
fellow patrolmen, Most of the men in tn,
service, II not all, are just as homes
as L.
This tribute to his mates shoult
shame the officer who is preying on SOM
unfortunate men and women or those en-
gagged in an ilegitimate business. I
should cause him forever to hang hi
head for the irreparable harm done T.
the good name of the Philadelphia po
| lice. II he had a conscience, he woul
at once stop the contemplate practice o
abusing his authority and exercising tn
trust the citizens have put in him I
take advantage of the weak. Or he shou
in fairness to his fellow officers, who b.
r their thoughts and actions are buildin
: UP a reputation for honesty, immedi
ately tender his resignation.
4 1.-THE Sentinel does not address thi
/. to any particular man. But 1t feels sur
of the support of the overwhelming ma
a jority of the police in its determined et
4 fort to rid the force of that scum c
the earth-the grating policeman"