The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-02
WE NEED TEAMWORK.

What Kenosha needs to secure better anC
intelligent enforcement of the law is team
work. 1t needs an intelligent association OF al
the agencies of law enforcement including the
police department, the sheriff, the district at
torney, the judges of the courts and the people
1t needs willingness to forget official courtesy
and imaginary lines dividing jurisdiction with
the understanding that the main thing is tc
get results.
Closer cooperation between the officials anc
the private citizens are needed in order to get
the best results People would recognize the
fact that if they know where the law is being
violated their first place to report. should be al
the office of some official who has the power
to enforce the law. 1t does not do great dea
Of good to stand about on some corner or al
some cross roads and talk about law violations
The place to talk Of them is at the office of the
Chief of Police and the Sheriff.
The Sheriff's office is supposed to serve Ke
nosha county, and it can be said that the city
of Kenosha is part of Kenosha county, anc
there is no law of any kind to prevent the
sheriff or his deputies from arresting any
violator of the law in the city of Kenosha
These men would not hesitate to arrest 6
man on charge of burglary or murder within
the limits of the city, but there seems to be {
great difference between the enforcing of laws
against murder and larceny and the enforce
ment of laws against the selling of liquor. Al
of these laws come under the same code anc
there is no "official courtesy which even sug
pests that the sheriff should wink at violations
in the city because the city has police de-
partment.
Closer Cooperation would suggest that the
police officers of the city knowing of violations
Of the law in the county outside of the city
would make prompt reports to the sheriff anc
work with him in every way possible to arrest
the violators of the law and put an end to the
reign of lawlessness.
Official courtesy should not be strained to the
point where it makes it possible for the of
fender to hide behind it and escape punish
ment.
The District Attorney has rights under his
certificate of office and one of these is to insist
on the fact that his office shall prosecute VIC
lators of the law The City Manager has wisely
invited the District Attorney to demand state
prosecutions of violations of the prohibition
laws The District Attorney should not hest
tate to take advantage of this offer His time
is paid for by the county, and he might well
spend an hour day in close touch with the
police department of the city making himself
familiar with every arrest made and debating
to the officials under just what statute OF
ordinance the complaint in court should be
brought.
Results will not be attained by any false
idea that the county has nothing to do with
the city and that officials of the city have nc
interest in enforcement of the law beyond an
imaginary line or street sign marking the
boundaries of the Incorporated city.
Kenosha has an abundance of officials in the
police department and in the sheriff's office
If all of these officials we're working together
and working intelligently and determinedly to
clean up the city and county, the law evader
and the law defer would not have a chance
to get away.
The recent primary election demonstrated
clearly that the people of Kenosha county are
not committed to a policy of winking at the
violations of the law. The vote showed con-
clusively that the majority of the people of
the county want the law enforced and want the
laws respected.
Respect for the law can only be brought by
enforcement of the law and enforcement does
not mean doing just what few people want
but what the law requires shall be done.
Decent cooperation on the part of the off
Gals, with these fellows on the side lines either
giving proper aid or quit talking, is the very
thing that Kenosha county needs If such a
plan can be worked out, Kenosha county will
hnf Io