The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-27
I'll NeDer Compromise
With Crime, Says Cr0ul,
Big Issue in MdyOrdL Fight


over busy factory engaged IN turn
ing out leather goods II one were
TO sum up his impressions OF Mr.
Croul and had 10 do o. '7 "a word &c
would be- a man Who makes
good 90
"If were 10 take charge OF The
police dopaum. TT again don't
know what I would do except ass /
did before n" said "I would prob.
ably find such different conditions
Thc town has grown wonderfully
since ! Ief, police headquarters and
its great prosperity has attracted
many criminals and undesirables 20
the city
"Ouc hing can say" and The
strong Jaws closed with a snap, II
never lid and never viii compro-
mise with crime. 7 never said 20
sgloonkcopcr, Turn your lights down
after hours and keep the crowd
quiet said CLOSE yorr bar a.
the hour stipulated by law and
empty your place II they didn't do
T. the police did The result was
that when ] loft police headquarters
there were fewer saloons IN Detroit
than when ! began. and the saloon
license was more valua bic because
thero were not go many OF them
Also o. made A. easier for saloon
keeper 10 obey the law, because his
rivals were doing IT,
Mr. Cgoul aid not care 70 com
mont upon the need 81 thoro
cleaning up I'm Detroit, because he
said DO did not know how bad con
diti0us were He knew that there
were piCkpOCkots. thieves, BURGLAR.
white slavers and slavors in the city
because hc could doduce that from
their victims and from the long list
Of uns0lvcd crimes ~ an kinds from
daylight automobile hold-up games
down
Woula Clean Up City
II could not clean UP Detroit in q
DAY or week" he said "bw
would do II I'm time and that would
depend upon how much ! found 10
do
Mr. Croul IS n man who docs not
care about making a record just for
the sake OF p record That would
not be IN line with his mOdesty, his
determination and his contempt FOR
the personal pronoun FIRST person
The title that goes with the or
fee should be- changed " said Mr.
Croul and should De peace COM.
missioner rather than police com
missioner for that really better de
scrihes A. II is HIS duty 10 stop
crime and not make H. When ]
was commissioner many attorneys
came TO me and asked me 10 get the
police 70 get evidence for them I'm
civil cases. divorces mostly. but they
never succeeded ! argued that We
could End enough crime OF our own
without hunting up tho shortcom
ings ~ husband or wife, and so
because ! wouldn't Jet The police de-
partment SPY upon thcm. the repu-
tation Of many man and woman
has been saved and possibly crime
has been avortcd
That bright light shall shine
upon the police affairs and the pub
lie NAV know what their uniformed
guardians are doing IL Frank Croul
becomes police commissioner Is In
dicated by his actions before as well
as by HIS statements % the present.
4 +-4-tA.4-lA4 lldHal nullcCmen will
he discouraged from acting as Judge
and fury IN a case and Diminishing r.
Never Suppressed q Complaint
In my administration | never sup
pressed complaint that was made
TT TT ffr---+--a--tt+ - : - --al-.
plants went 10 the prosecuting a.
torney and were dropped only II in
his opinion there was no case. !
wouldn't pass upon IL nor would ]
permit the patrolmcn 10 do so That
would be dangerous. ] used my
Judgment az times In minor affairs
where man had been detained long
enough 20 sober m or something of
that kind, but never until con
suited with the arTestinE officer II
was not safe 10 set such an example
10 the men
81 also discouraged the officers
from making his friends among the
hartendors and the crooks II was
dangerous for tho policemen. gave
the crooks confidence and really en-
couraged violations OF the law on
the other hand the policemen never
got any information from these fol
lows that ever aid them any good
wanted them 20 make friends with
the men and women on their beats
and inspire confidence in the people
that they We're being properly guard
ed I wanted the PEOPLE to-tcCl that
II was safe 10 call policeman and
that he would serve them"
Frank r. Croul. in the opinion OF
the reporter who sat an hour with
him IN his office. &C. highly capable
citizen. a perfectly clean one IN
every sense, not a. prudc nor an tx
remist but strong wholesome
patriotic American
citizen who loves dcconcy as much
as he hates crime. whose blgncss
lies not alone IN his bone and tissue.
but Is in his modesty as well. lie
appears TO be the type Of man who
says, TIL do The best can and
whose best is the best there is.