Payette enterprise., 1924-01-31
SHER|FF'S VIEWS ON
LAW ENFORCEMENT

i The Enterprise has received a
copy of a letter written by Sheriff
Jefferis to F. A. Jeter, Secretary OF
State, which we are pleased to give
publicity in full, the same appearing
in last Sundays Stateman, minus the
first paragraph which detracted from
the real purpose and meaning of the
letter. The letter follows:
January, 1924
Honorable F A. Jeter,
Secretary of State,
Boise, Idaho.
RE: Enforcement Motor Vehicle Law
l have your letter of the 23rd in
stant with reference to the action of
/ the convention of Assessors on the
above matter and asking the cooper
alton of the Sheriffs of the State
along the line.
! 1 am free to confess that |, for
/ one, as Sheriff, am considerably at
sea as to the attitude of the State
in reference to this law. Last year
motor vehicles licenses were. by law.
required to be attached to vehicles
upon the same date as this year, i.
e. January LIST, making it unlawful
to operate same upon the highways
of this State after that date without
the new license plate, yet you, l am
informed, issued a mandate that no
endorsements would be made until
after March 1st. Now again this
year l read an article, 1 believe in
the Statesman, stating that the Sher-
iff's office at Boise had received per-
mission from somewhere, presumab-
ly from your department, that no
arrests would be made for violations
of this law on New Years Day. How
Come? May l seem so impudent as
to inquire from whence you obtain
your authority to withhold the oper-
alton Of this statute for one day, one
month or three months.
Now allow me TO say a word or two
on this subject of cooperation The
statute generally and clearly de-
fines my duties as a peace officer. If
I see a law being violated, it is my
duty to arrest. If some other in
dividual sees a law being violated
or has knowledge of such violation,
II is his duty as citizen to swear to
a complaint. If any Assessor knowing
of violation, sees fit TO refuse TO
S-s3A4 LIN p4dAA1S O0Is OF
otherwise, chooses TO jump behind
the skirts Of the Sheriff's Office, and
to later disclaim all knowledge of the
violation, is it logical that the Sher-
iff should investigate again the fact
of the violation and take the brunt
of the same and let the Assessor go
blameless and meet the accused as a
close friend eager to receive his vote
again and even extending to him,
some measure of sympathy.
l feel and know that violations in
this County are few and meagre.
Some are slow in paying because
they haven't the money. They are
coming in slowly. They will all be
N by March 1st. You have taught
hem, by your previous mandate.
hat that date is the dead line'', and
lot January 1st. Precedent some
lines establishes a remarkable de-
ense, regardless of the provisions of
statute. You must realize all these
nen are entitled to jury trial.
These men are not criminals in any
'ense of the word. This is a fruit
.ountry and large number were
obliged to throw their crops away.
others shipped with the result that
hey were billed back for freight be-
ause the crop shipped weuId not
ring 1t on the market. Well get by
ONE way and with out the County
T State feeding many of us. 1 scarce
believe we need a resolution of an
lssessor's Convention to point out
he way to US, nor of any other or
anization of political ''bush-leagu-
rs YOur ur1r0arorrs 1a+ta-- -o,s-5
ng law enforcement are, perhaps, as
interesting along this line as any eiti-
sn would be, but I think even you
0 not nope, by them, to alter in
ny material respect the policy of
MS office, I beg to remain,
Very Respectfully Yours
JOHN T. JEFFERIS.
Sheriff of Payette County. Idaho