Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-08-17
SpeedCops
Defended
By Sheriff
Columbia County Traf-
/ fic Men Only Doing
| Duty Is Answer TO
| Critics

|lQ44tVA9 AtIt~ -~-~--~f
whether they drive q Pierce-Arrow
Or a Ford, declares Sheriff Wei
lington In letter to Governor Oh
cot In reply to charges made ~
the county commissioners OF Mutt
nomah county to the effect that
the Columbia county speed COPS
are exceeding their authority In
hating automobile drivers.
The plant OF the Multnomah
commissioners according TO Sher-
iff wellington, apparently arose
from the fact that one OF his dep
uties dared to stop the wife Of one
Of the commissioners who was
driving through the county at the
rate OF 36 miles an hour. The
commissioner wife became very
abusive to the officer, the sheriff
declares.
TOO many people think the
laws were made for the other fell
low and not for Them" Sheriff
Wellington write. 1--WE are will
ing at all times to show any cour-
fesy that we can TO anyone who
will take the trouble to come here
and Investigate any chargcs that
are brought against the officers Of
this county"
Those who have come to investi-
gate have been satisfied that they
were groundless, he declares.
Last Friday, August II, we
had special interview with Mr..
Vincent OF the Oregon Tourist a
Information bureau Sheriff Vel
iington writes. "Mr. Vincent went
over the ground thoroughly with
us. In order that he could inter-
view the motorcycle officers J CALI
ed them In that day. ! told Mr..
Vincent II he had any plan for en-
forcing the motorcycle laws that
were better than ours we were
willing to try them. ] explained to
him that had OH file seyenty-five
accident reports and four deaths
since March the first OF this year
in this county. l told him to look
over our speeder reports, and be
would find that we had not been
arresting anyone going under 81
miles per hour.
II think the most complaints
come from people who thiulx they
should be immune from the motor
cycle laws.
"Second--Some who wish to get
the arresting officer fired.
"Third--Some who think they
will bluff the officers from doing
their duty.
III any OF these people have a
real grievance, why don't they
come to me SO that ! can investi-
gateit
There has been only one case
OF this kind SO far, a prominent
citizen of Portland came lown
here fighting mad. he claimed he
was arrested going 2s miles per
hour. another man was driving the
car who admitted going at times 32
and S3. suggested that possibly
the speedometer on their car WAS
wrong. they then wanted 1t tested
out. / sent a motorcycle officer
out with them. after spilling the
officer, tearing his clothes, break
ing his watch and blistering his
hands, we found that their speed
ometer was wrong; they then said
that perhaps the motorcycle speed
ometer was wrong. then told
them that they could have their
speedometer tested in Portland
and that l would send the officer
up TO have his tested. which did
Their speedometer showed seven
miles slow, making them going 40
miles when they were registering
S3 miles.
II think a few OF the people of
Portland and the newspapers are
giving lot OF unnecessary noto-
riety to Columbia county by not
investigating before publishing
these complaints.
II at any time you can suggest
any plan for patrolling the high
way, better than the one we have,
can assure you that we win be
only too glad to try II out.
I'm regards to herng courteous
/ wish TO say that they are at all
times gentlemen. II anyone can
convince me that they are other
wise ! win discharge them at once.
THE leyying of cash bail is the
only way we have to get them to-
appear, II they are short OF funds
we take their word for Il they win
apear, II they don't we issue a
bench warrant and get them. At
the time OF arrest they are given
q card telling them when. and
where to appear. sample of
which am enclosing. The Off
Ger then fills in a speeder report,
sample Of which am enclosing.
The speeder report is copied on the
docket by the justice of the peace.
II ls then turned over to the coun-
clerk by the arresting officer. /
think the charges Of the slipshod
way OF taking bail Is without foun-
dalton. The speed limit in this
county from now on is 80 miles
per hour.
Carpenter And
@lL rV1. m