The Detroit times., 1916-09-26

that when left police headquarters
there were fewer saloons I'm Detroit
than whom | began, and the saloon
license was more valuable because
there werc not 80 many OF them
Also II made Il easier for a saloon.
keeper 10 obey the law. because his
rivals were doing e."
Mr.. Croul did not care 20 com
ment upon the need OF a thoro
cleaning up in Detroit, because he
said he did not know how bad con
ditions We're. He knew that there
were pickpockets. thieves, burglars,
white slavers and slayers IN the city
because he could deduce that from
their victims and from the long list
( Of unsolyod crimes Of all kinds from
daylight automobile hold-up games
down.
Would Clean Up City
81 could not clean up Detroit In a
day or week" he said, "but
would do II in time and that would
depend upon how much / found TO
do"
Mr. Croul is a man who does rot
care about making a record Just for
the cake Of record That would
not be in line with his modesty, his
determination and his contempt for
the personal pronoun, frst person.
THE title that goes with the Of
f1se should be changed" said Mr..
Croul, "and should be peace COM
missioner rather than police COM
missioner, for that really better de
scribes II. II is his duty TO stop
crime and not make t. When |
was commissioner many attorneys
came TO me and asked me to get the
police 10 get evidence for them in
civil cases, divorces mostly, but they
never succeeded argued that we
could find enough crime Of our own
without hunting cup the shortcom-
ings OF a husband or wife, and So
because wouldn't let the police de-
partment spy upon them, the repu-
tation OF many man and woman
has been saved and possibly crime
has been averted."
That bright light shall shine
upon the police affairs and the pub
lie NAV know what their uniformed
guardians are doing II Frank Croul
becomes police commissioner Is in
dicated by his actions before "a well
as by HIS statements OF the present.
Also the individual policemen will
be discouraged from acting as Judge
and Jury In a case and Diminishing il.
Never Suppressed a Complaint
an my administration never sup
pressed a complaint that was made
10 me-" said Mr.. Croul "All com
plants went 10 the prosecuting at
torney and were dropped only IL In
his opinion there was no case. ]
wouldn't pass upon II nor would
permit the patrolmen TO do so. That
would be dangerous. used my
Judgment az times in minor affairs
where man had been detained long
enough to sober up or something Of
that kind. but never until con
suited with the arresting offlcer. II
was not safe 10 set such an example
to the men
"I llao discouraged the officers
froV making his friends among the
bar ,enders and the crooks. II was
dsyicerous for the policemen. gave
t4e crooks confidence and really en-
|eouraged violations OF the law. On
the other hand. the policemen never
got any information from these fell
lews- that ever did them any good.
wanted them TO make friends with
the men and women on their beats
and inspire confidence in the people
that they were being properly guard
ed. I wanted the people TO feel that
II was safe to call policeman and
that he would serve them"
Frank II. Croul. in the opinion OF
the reporter who sat an hour with
him IN his once. is highly capable
citizen, perfectly clean one In
every sense, not prude nor an ex-
tremist, but a strong. wholesome.
healthy-minded. patriotic American
citizen. who loves decency as much
az he hates crime, whose bigness
lies not alone In his bone and tissue,
hut is In his modesty as well. He
appears 10 be the type OF man who
SAYS, "T'll do the best | can" and
whose best Is the best there Ia.