The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-22
BOARD MAY BACK COPS COLLEGE
Would Furnish Funds For Training Of Local
 Policemen

Birmingham police will have their training school after all, according to indications Saturday. .@
 The civil service board, through John w. Altman, it's chairman, has offered to lend $70O to the city for six months or longer, without interest, in order that the school may be quickly estab- lished. This offer probably will be ac- cepted at the next meeting of the com mission.
 The commission upheld Commissioner W. B. Cloe a week ago and voted down q request for an appropriation to launch the school. Cloe denounced the plan as an insult to his men, declaring the city has one of the most efficient pO- lice forces in. the, country. The com mission rejected the proposal solely on grounds. of lack of funds. "
 Altman's letter said the school would be permanent, that it would greatly increase efficiency in the department, and that none but law violators and criminals will object to the training of police officers and increased efficien- cy of our policemen"
 Chairman Altman's letter. which is spicy in places, follows in full:
 'The members of the civil service board are informed that a majority of the commission, namely, Commissioners MeLendOn, Echols, Dickson and Cloe voted adversely for the appropriation to defray the expenses of the establish ment of a police training school for Birmingham, and did so because of lack of available funds therefor.
 We were pleased to learn from news paper accounts that the commissioner of public safety expressed some favor of the idea, and we were sorry that he did not think the present financial con dition of the city would warrant the same; but we are glad that he en- dorsed Prof. George T. Ragsdale, who was to establish the school, as one of the outstanding scientific police author ities in this country.
 We have made study of the propO- sition in connection with our police de- pertinent, and are compressed that the training school should be established now.
 Entitled To Training
 We believe and know that our pO- icemen are entitled to the advantages of this training, and our citizenship should have the beneficial results there from.
 "We'know that none but law viOlators and criminals will object to the train- ing of the police officers and increased efficiency of our policemen.
 There has been complaint that Bir- mingham did mot have a sufficient number of policemen. It is well known and recognized by scientific police au- thorities of this country and Europe that one trained man is equal to three untrained men in any police depart ment.
 ''rhe civil service board of Birmins- ham, in view of the situation, does urge and insist upon the establishment of this school, and that without delay. In that connection we call your atten- tion to the following
 The school is to be permanent.
 Professor Ragsdale is to select the best qualified members of the depart ment and train them as instructors for the school; he will give the officers and men the benefit of other police systems in this and in European countries will furnish them information so that they may obtain the latest works and au- thorities and books upon police work, modern police practice, etc.
 Some uniformed people think that the school is to teach the three R's--- readin,' 'ritin' and 'rithmetic.' Of course, it appears absurd that anyone should imagine that, but some mem- bers of the department and others think so.
 |sThe curFiculam, of course, will em- brace all practical problems of police men and police work, including practi- cal understanding of criminal statutes and criminal ordinances; rights of citi. gems; duties of officers; better method of patroling; methods and matter of Identification, finger print study ber. tilon modus operandi; report making scientific investigation; effective CO., operation with other departments of the city cooperation with authorities of the county, state and nation; local ge- Ography first aid to injured persons calisthenies boxing; jiu-jitsu; pistol practice; self-defense; handling of pris- oners courtesy to citizens. etc.
 Will Furnish Funds
 "The members of the civil service board regret the present inability of the city to furnish the necessary finances for the establishment of the school. So thoroughly are we impressed that the matter should not be delayed, and that we should embrace this opportunity of having Professor Ragsdale with US and so suFe are we that it will be of great advantage to the men of the de-
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