The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-13
The Police and the City

The rioting in Boston proves concusively why
cities are wise in not permitting their police de-
paartments to settle their grievances by the
methods employed in that municipality. Society
must be protected. The basis of the social order
is sef-preservation and the police department is
charged with maintaining order
The police must be impartial in carrying out
the high duty which has been assigned to the
members of the department. He must be an ex
ample to citizens in his devotion to the principle
of order When he assumes his obligation as a
guardian of the peace he surrenders a certain
amount of personal freedom. He cannot quit
work when danger threatens. He cannot expose
society to the attacks of the lawless who prac-
tice their nefarious work as as they feel
that the police have ceased their watchful care
The looting in Boston illustrates that point.
On the other hand, the city must treat fairly
the men who give up this freedom. 1t must pay
them adequate salaries and cooperate with them
in their arduous work. No municipality can eX-
pect good police protection if it's are not paid
salaries that are commensurate with the risk
thew assume and are given assistance by the
citizens.
News dispatches of the last few days have
shown how police officers in the discharge of
their duties have sacrificed their lives There
was an illustration of the bravery of police offlc-
ers at indianapolis the other day. Two officers
yost their lives in Richmond a few years ago in
making arrest. The average police officer
wants to do what is right. He has difficult
nosition An apprecative understanding of the
difficulties of police officer and spirit of CO.
operation will go far toward a solution OF the
problem. A police officer must never forget that
he is sworn officer of the community charged
with maintaining order at all hazards. Actions
such as characterized the procedure of the Bos-
ton department will gain them little.
The Indianapolis News has the following to
say about the Boston incident
The strike of the Boston policemen is the best
possible proof of the correctness of the attitude
of the police commissioner who has refused to
permit the men to join union. Other cities
should profit by the demonstration. Policemen
are not employees of a municipality-they are
public officers, precisely are mayors and men,
oers of municipal boards. Their duty is to the
public and they can not refuse to perform it
without being guilty Of something very like
mutiny. This question might as we'll be fought
out now. The correct principle must be estab-
lished if there is to be any safety in American
cities. Peace officers can have no allegiance ex-
cept to tn epublic, masters except their super
iors, who are also servants of the public. A strike
of policemen and firenen is ridiculous and
dangerous as a strike in the army would be.
Yet no would have thought that, with
the removal of police restraint there would be
such an outbreak of violence and lawessness as
has occurred in Boston. This is the nearest ap-
proach to Boshevism that we have had. Gangs
of thieves and robbers have plundered at WILL in