The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-21
Rights Of Public and Police.


1t would be wise prccaution on the part Of
the superintendent of police should he make
known to the people of Washington precisely
where, according to his instructions to the mem
bers of his force, the duty of the policeman ends
aad the rights of the citizen begin. Events OF
frequent occurrence in recent months prove that
wide difference OF opinion exists between the
people and the police as to where the law halts
the agents for its enforcement. Policemen OF tho
Capital have upon numerous occasions exercised
what they apparently believe to be their right
torcibly, but without written warrant, to enter
dwellings in dead Of night. The indisputable fact
that 1t is the almost unanimous belief OF the
houscholders Of Washington that the police pos
sess no such right, and in the attempt to exercise
lt-cXccpt under the most extraordinary circum-
stances palpably justifying it-may be dealt with
as ordinary housebrcakcrs, suggests constant
source OF danger, that only be removed by a
new understanding.
The situation is new to the people Of Wash
ington who have observed with increasing aston
ishmcnt spectacular raids on restaurants and
stealthy descents on perfectly innocent and
friendly games OF cards participated i'll by elderly
ladies of eminent and staid responsibility. And
now comes the charge that policemen forcibly
entered at o'clock in the morning lodging
house near the Union Station occupied at the time
solely by a woman and her daughter, child Of
tender years, terrifying them that the mother
appealed by telephone to the police statiop for
help. Police officers it is alleged had visited the
house some days before, making inquiries concern
ing the whereabouts OF persons OF whom the
woman had no knowledge.
The occurrence has aroused popular indigna-
ton, expressed in communications to the news
papers. and the charge has been published that
since the woman's complaint of the forcble entry
members OF the police force have made efforts,
with the aid of stool pigeons to inveigle her
into some iniraction of the law. True or false,
these charges have been made in the public press,
and the superintendent OF police for the sake Of
the reputation OF his force, will no doubt insist
that they either be proved or disproved.
In the interest OF the public peace and safety,
he should go further. He should notify members
o. the force that they may not foreibly and with
out warrant enter dwelling house, except to
prevent such crimes murder or burglary to
arrest one guilty OF some such crime; he
should give public notice to the people that he
claims for the police the right at their own dis
cretion, to enter, by force by stealth, at any
hour OF the day night, any dwelling in Wash
ington. provided only that they can find in their
minds suspicion that some infraction Of the law
has been is about to be committed within.
Citizens thus warned would perhaps take time to
investigate before attacking midnight invaders Of
their homes and while such proceeding might
make easier the profession of burglary and fail
to square with the Constitution and the laws, it
would also relieve the police of hampcring re-
srictions and criticism at least until the question
of their rights could be brought to test in the
courts.
Obviously, the present situation, with the po-
lice and public widely at variance as to their
respective rights under the law, calls first for an
announcement by the superintendent of police, de-
fning them according to his official conception
of them.