Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-19
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MESS.

With the excitement which started Saturday afternoon when
charges formally made that Police Officer Jesse Holmes had
been engaged the manufacture and sale OF hooch and had been
selling other liquor and stories have been the street
involving nearly every member of the force from the commissioner
down crookedness connection with the conduct
of the department There stories of all kinds regarding pro
lection of criminals and many other which If true
would explain how robees had been pulled off i'll Ottawa with mo
clue arrest Considering all the circumstances which tired the
bomb shooting Farrell and Fox with their friends
and following wondered the bad blood has been
stirred up and that there is desire to get someone
This paper long urged that there something with
the police department. but very slow accept true the
tons this time 1t has believed that the necency OF the
police department due the lack of high morale and
respect supors than other There can be no
concerted effort work unless there is total respect tor
ipeors confidence in their judgment may individually
be honest and competent officer but he dsurbe and set
inefficient without the respect by men with whom he is
supposed work by those under him he not good man on the
force.
The public has right expect and does demand thorough
and impartial investigation Of the whole department and the
running of every story that has in sembance OF truth
There been number of crimes committed i'll Ottawa within
short time which arrests have been made and Whc 10 a
would impossible for the guilty parties to get away with
the police their jobs and attending strictly to their
duties If these failures were the result protection
now find if it due to every member OF the
department be shown that there truth to the rlnors
And there better The men who seem to be able
to furnish stirred up and willing the limit 1t
I'D separate the wheato the cha or there
no truth in the allegations made to find that out
There question but the police department needs shakng
No. and the dismissal chief today would indicate that the com
missioner charge believes that be the well as anyone
The dismissed under suspicion OF being IN anyway con
ned alleged disclosures but his ignorance OF these
and other matters which been about town
were deemed indicative that he not the man
for job But removal of chief who little slow Tor
his position going put the Ottawa police force where should
needs investigation from top to bottom and the replacing
of every man who willing do mans work and en-
force the city ordinances he finds them an impartial manner
all The chief when appointed Will have
Job ahead of him. the least OF which will be to get some
discipline in the information abroad that Ottawa
poor place for crooks.
The changing officer but beginning and every
support that be given the commissioner charge his work
should be forthcoming And the chief whoever he be-
should be given authority the details of the force All
the members of the have their friends and though they may
be all right individually if for the good Of the found best
replace them their friends should be slow to npart improper mo-
tves the who have the job to do Ottawa needs real upto
date and efficient and we believe this the time get It.