The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-03-03
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
TO MUNICIPAL OFFICERS
SEEKS COOPERATION IN THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THE
STATE LAWS.

1t has been reported to me that
one or two of the city police of this
county have made the remark that
certain violations of state laws were
not violations of city ordinances and
therefore something with which they
had nothing to do. This, of course,
is entirely erroneous and if such an
Impression does exist, ] feel that it
should be corrected
Under the provisions of Section
S7l5 of the Idaho compiled statutes,
every city policeman is peace officer
and it is the duty of every peace Off
Ger to enforce the laws of the state
of Idaho and those of the United
States and any peace officer is sub
iect to punishment and removal from
Office for failure to perform his duties
as such
wish particularly to call your at |
tcntion to the provisions of Section |
1911 of the Idaho compiled statutes. /
which makes it a part Of your duty
TO inform against and prosecute all
violations of the law pertaining to
gambling In this connection, infor-
nation has come to me that punch
boards are being openly displayed and
operated in violation of law. and that
gambling games are being run open
~ in Wallace, Mullan and Kellogg
and i'm such a manner that every po-
liceman must know of this abuse and
connive at and acquiesce in these Of
hoo fa
ANY excuse for these open violations
OF law not being Immediately sup
pressed and / am asking that You
take steps to see that il is so done.
also call your attention to the
provisions of Section 26lO of the Ida
no compiled statutes which dealing @
with the article covering the prohibi- d
tion laws. provides at shall be the
duty of all sheriffs deputy sheriffs
constables. mayors. marshals and po- II
lice officers of any city or village hav- II
ing notice and knowledge of any VIC "
lation of the provisions OF this arti-
Gle TO notify the prosecuting attorney
Of the proper county Of the fact OF "
such violation. and to furnish him the III
names of any witnesses within his "
knowledge by whom such violations -
car be proven" This section goes on
to provide a punishment by fine and
forfeiture of Office for any officer fail
ine to perform his duties Relative to O
this law ] submit that during the
time ! have been i'm office with one
exception. to-wit; the case Of John q.
Kosher from Mullan there has not Sc
been another arrest for violation of an
the liquor laws made by any one of ,,TT
The six city police of the county and n.
absolutely no other information has as
been given this office relative to boot
eggers or manufacturers; and I am n.
advised that no information has been B
given to the sheriff Cl
These facts. under the present con- "a
iitions appear to confirm the propo- ID
i:tion that some at least of the city ID
'ohce of the county do not consider III
E any part Of their duty 10 enforce e
state laws.
J further call the attention or all ~
leace officers to the fact that there -
ro numerous motor vehicles being HI
operated i'm this county without their II
wners having complied with the =.
avs relative to procuring a license Ia
nd many are being operated without ia
he required brakes lights horns and "a
license number Section 1897 of the H.
IDAHO compiled statutes makes it the Isl
uty of all peace officers. game war IS
ems and deputy game wardens with 10
n this state to enforce the laws per- J.
aiming to the operation of motor We IL
icles; and Section 1919 makes any l.,
collation. of the laws governing the -,
esistration and Use of motor vehicles ~
misdemeanor. You are requested to IN
eport all violations of these laws to 9i
his office SI
II would seem that heretofore there Nh
as been "a tendency for some of the Ai'
ity police of the county to attempt SSi'
D escape responsibility for all man M,
ers of law violation by passing the NJ.
asponsibility to the county officers: M'
hat is, to the sherin7s office and to W..
he prosecuting attorney; while as a NJ,
natter of fact they the city police Nj
re responsible for the enforcement N.Y.
9 law within their respective iuris- ~.
lotions to the extent of making ar M,
asts and furnishing this Office with NJ
ecessary evidence where violations NI'
re not cognizable by the respective N.
olice courts ut;
In each of the principal towns Of M'
he county there is an omcer being M.
mid by the taxpayers. on duty con- NJ,
nuously whose duty it is to see that 1l'
p violators of city ordinances state NJ NJ
nd national laws are arrested and N1s
-osecuted in the police courts; or Ma
here the offense is not cognizable No
Y such police court turned over to N.Y.
lie county officers with the evidence NIC
.cured. The sheriff has not the time Mc
nd it is not his duty to act i'm the SNli
opacity Of a policeman III
So far as 7 am concerned. 7 will Mo
'0secute any case of law violation Mo
iihout exception. when furnished ~
ith a reasonable amount Of evidence Nj,
Il IL is in no way my duty. nor have Ou