The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21

fAhS ANi mas q result WnICD
goes 10 the heart Of the distinction
between English and Contnen. al police
conditions
With the rank and file OF a police
torce recruited from noncommissioned
chicers who have spent from six te
twelve years In the army a certain
degree OF indifference to the general
pubic tends to develop The German
policeman Is apt to lose sight of
mis- function as protector and guide,
and to treat the citizens az he was
accustomed to treat the awkward
SQUADS OF raw recruits whome 1t was
MS duty to knock into shape during
his career as an Cnterofsizier in the
army. Although the official orders
make frequent reference to the neces-
sity for courtesy and kindness in deal
inv with the public, the German po-
ihce. particularly in the larger cities.
are at times unsynlpathetic, even
marsh. Traffic Is handled in Berlin
/ by dint of much shouting and some
verbal. abusa. A citizen who mad
vertently. perhaps dlsobeys a rule
OF the road is apt to be made the object
of an impassioned deDunciation audi
bic for half a block A German po-
iiceman on patrol In armed as If for
war. AT night Berlin Schutzmann,
in addition to his heavy short-sword.
carries an automatic pistol strapped
outside his coat. while the Dresden
patromen carry swords, pistols and
brass knuckles. Nor are these weapons
merely ornamental, have myself
sabre cuts brought into a Berlin po-
nee station for misdemeanor.'
Not Guardians OF Morals.
In the third place, the integrity of
European police is ascribable to the
fact that they are looked upon as pro-
tectors Of law and order rather than as
guardians OF public morals
There is little attemptto make a
particular code of behavior the sub
tect Of general criminal legislation.
The high moral standards of n ew
people are not the legal requirements
OF the State. Only occasionally is
there any movement to place upon
the statute books laws which serve
only to satisfy the consciences Of those
responsible for them. This is sub
i3ect worthy of more attention than can
be given in these pages. It strikes
deep into the heart Of the police prob
lem. For example, the public houses
Of London, within a four-mile radius
of Charing Cross. are allowed to open
on Sundays, by act of Parliament, De
tween the hours of l and p. NJ, and
8 and II =. M. This particular pro
vision, which from personal investi-
cation know to be generally enforced.
meets with the approval of Londons
Icitizens. 1t is a fair approximation
to the tastes and standards of the
majority. l asked high Official at
Scotland Yard whose name In this
connection | am not at liberty to
mention, what would be the effect on
the Metropolitan Police Force If Par
Hament passed a law prohibiting the
sale of liquor on Sunday. 1T would
mean the decentralization of the force
~. tod
integrity of the police against the
lvicions Influences arising from unen-
forceable laws In Berlin, where. as
in most Continental cities, no dstinc-
ltion Is made in the sale of liquor be-
tween weekdays and Sundays a sim
liar question propounded to a police
official OF high rank was greeted with
stare OF amazement. Proposteyous,'
he exclaimed. The entire German
army could not enforce such regu-
lation.'
4 Question of Habits,
These illustrations are NOT Intended
AS an argument for open saloons on
Sunday. That is a separate question
TO be determined on the basis both
of national habits and local conditions
The point is that police department
cannot be used to enforce standards of
conduct which are wildly disarproved
or to REGULATE the private habits or
a population contrary to its wishes.
Attempts to enforce laws Of this type
which are not representative Of public
opinion invara bly, breed corruption
"The European police department
Is. on the whole. an excellent piece of
machinery. To its construction high
order OF creative intelligence has been
devoted: in it's operation high order
of intelligence is constantly employed
In the last resort, the police problems
I.Af "A ltts b. n
imand upon intelligence. and Europe
has succeeded In formulating and
solving it's police problem because,
Idiscarding AN inferior persons and
agencies. 1t has utilized In this work
a superior type of intelligence"
Beneath all the variations which
We have from time to time commented
on, there are certain common prin-
lciples on the basis Of which the effl -
cheney of the European police depart
ment can be explained. First. the
police are not called upon to compel
conformity to moral standards which
do not meet with general public ap-
,rroval. They are not asked to enfoN,e
laws which from the standpoint of
accepted public habit or taste are fun
damentally urcnforceable."
Second. control lis conferred where
responsibility can be definitely fixed
in a single Official. This official.
Thoroughly strained for hts work and
chosen with painstaking deliberation.
IL clothed with independent authority.
Secure In his position and free from
external Interference, he enjoys the
widest powers in dealing with his
subordinates Perhaps the most strik-
ing fact in connection with the Eu-
Iropean police commissi oner is not only
the absence of checks and balances by
which a ~ossible abuse Of power may
he curbed or minimized, but the sus-
tanned faith of the people that power
will be wisely employed"
Care In Training.
I Finally, the rank and file of THE
European police forces are selected
and trained with the same care and at
tention shown In The case of their SUI
perfor officers. Indeed. In all ranks
the character of the personnel is the
essential constant factor OF efficiency.
On this and 20 other basis is 1t pos