Charlevoix county herald., 1920-09-03
STATE POLICE
HAVE BIG YEAR
- ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS STATE
TROOPERS HAVE PERFORMED
VARIED SERVICES IN EN-
FORCING LAW.
WORK HAS GROWN GREATLY

is givcp in the report recently maue
by Major Robert K. Marsh, command
ant, to Governor Sleeper This shows
that the troopers on patrol and speciai
Assignments have travelled an aggre-
gate of 597,974 miles during the
twelve months and visited more than
1000 towns and villages.
That the money expended for the
maintenance of this force is not en-
tirely net outgo is evidenced by the
- fact that the fines collected In state
and county courts In cases brought
by the State Police amounted to $3O,-
476.5O and in the federal courts the
fines were $75,500. Altogether, 4,56S
persons were required to take out IL
censes of various kinds. Stolen goods
of value Of $4,000 were recovered.
In monetary way, however, the
greatest accomplishments or the
force were of a preventative nature.
Putting out forest fires. preventing de-
struction of property, breaking up in
cipient race riots, protecting banks
and other business establishments IN
the smaller cities and villages, guard
ing orchards from raiders and similar
services bulk large in potential saw
ing of loss.
During the year 1,046 arrests were
made for almost every crime from
murder down. OF those arrested 852
were convicted during the year, 80
cases were pending, 80 prisoners had
been turned over to other officers and
only 10 were discharged. This proves
that the State Police were exceeding
ly careful in the arrests made.
Whisky Traffic Fought.
A constant attempt was made to
stop bootlegging and moonshining.
Liquor amounting to 22,595 gallons,
of an estimated value of $4,000, was
seized and SO stills were destroyed.
Two members OF the force were seri-
ously injured in battles with liquor
runners. Particular activity was dis
played in breaking up illicit distilling
after it was proved by analyses that
most of the homemade whisky is poi
sonous in nature and likely to cause
death if taken in any quantity.
Much has been done by the troop
ers to make the highways of the state
more safe and the arrest of speeders
has also protected the macadam and
! gravel roads which are torn up by
reckless drivers.
Protection was extended to a num-
Der of towns which had been the suf-
ferers from gangs of criminals who
used motor cars in their raids and
these raids were effectually stopped.
Many gambling resorts were raided
by the State Police and the crooked
gamblers forced to close up, while
their apparatus was seized and de-
stroyed.
Police Made Investigations.
Investigations were made for the
attorney general and other state Of
ficers. Assistance was given to storm
swept districts and many citizens
were also given aid when they were
found i'll or injured on the highways
by the troopers.
State Police are forbidden to dis
cuss religion or politics, are told to
give warning rather than to use fore
ible measures wherever law violation
appears to be due to ignorance or
heedlessness and are instructed to
render every aid possible at all times
to women, children and persons In
distress.
Larger Force Needed.
In conclusion, Major Marsh reports:
1.-THE impossibility of protecting the
rural districts of territory covering
forty-two thousand square miles, prac-
tically without police protection ex-
cept that furnished by the State Po-
lice, and of complying with the two
thousand, five hundred and one re-
quests for assistance received during
the past year and which are constant
ly increasing as the force is becoming
known. With force of only two hun
dred and four officers and men this
must be acknowledged and does not
admit of argument. Although the
population of the state has increased
over one-half million since the force
was first organized, the strength OF
the force has not increased one single
man.
while the amount of pay provided
by the Act of 1919 helped at the time
to keep the experienced men, the in
creased cost of living during the past
year and the large increase in wages
of all classes Of labor, has not only
made II difficult to secure desirable re.
cruits, but has influenced members
of the force to resign so as to accept
much better paying positions.
II would respectfully recommend
the forco to be increased by thirty
FIVE per cent and that the pay be in
creased to conform to the pay of POI
lice officers of cities of the first class"
POLICE ExTINGUISH FIRES