Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-20
Highway Police
Chief Cites Attempts
To Intimidate Him

the State Police, lit was expected in
certain quarters that the Chief would
tear his hair, gnash his teeth, and
otherwise indicate his displeasure at
the proposed action.
But did he? He did not! For, with
the daily record (called the Scandal
Sffeet") kept in his office showing an
increase of almost 100 per cent in
the number of arrests made this
year over the similar period in 1925,
Chief Field naturally believes that
it might be very difficult to prove
sweeping charge of official ineff1-
cheney against him as head Of the
State Police.
THE primary cause of the greatly
increased number of arrests made
this year lies in the good results
which we were able to obtain at the
Police School held this Spring." said
the Chief. Saturday.
THAT School taught the officers
much that they needed to learn
about the preparation of court cases,
the scope of their duties as hign-
way policemen, and the sort of Of
lenses over which they have juris-
diction. The Police School was a
success, SO far as it went, and shall
advocate continuing it in 1927. If It
can be arranged, it is my intention
to employ q trained attorney, famil-
lar with criminal procedure, to con-
duct classes at the next school and
demonstrate the actual handling of
court cases. An official who comes
into court with a case that is not
technically perfect has slight
chance of getting a conviction. | do
not mean TO intimate" he went Oh.
that we are not getting excellent
cooperation from the courts of this
State. AS matter of law, q case
must be properly prepared before the
Judge can act upon the evidence pre-
scented.
Plenty Of Applications on File
NO, L do not anticipate any diff
hculty in filling the ranks of the
State Police in the Spring." said the
Chief smilngly. Look at these files."
He drew out big steel drawer. IN
which were tightly packed a dozen
or more large, red folders. Those
folders contain complete informa-
ton in regard to more than 500 an
pllcants who are anxious to obtain
employment with the State Police"
he explained.
"A large part of the applicants are
men with records of service in the
army, most of them have had some
experience as motorcycle riders. ana
there would be very little difficulty
In selecting a much larger force
than the State would be willing to
pay for"
World Not Getting Worse
Asked as to whether he considered
the increased number of arrests made
hN his hic
that the State was becoming more
criminally inclined, Chief Field said:
L do not, The reason for this IN
crease is based almost entirely on
the increased efficiency of the officers
and the interest they take IN tne,r
work. The increase in arrests will
continue for a time. then we shou,u
expect to see a considerable falling
OH, as the public awakes to the fact
that arrests are beng mace for re--
tam violations of law that were for
merry allowed to occur without much
hotlce being staken of>them."
Variety of Duties Performed
rev persons outside of the ones
actually engaged in the work have
any realization of the scope of the
scope OF the work now being handled
by the State Police. The Violations
listed on the Scandal Sheet run
from capital crimes, such as murder
forgery, adultery. highway robbery
embezz'ement, and grand larceny
GoWn to driving a Ford with one
headlight out or using the cut-o,1r
within city limits.
In between these extremes IS sand
wiched a list of offenses as long as
from here to there, and a perusal or
tiiis sheet OF offenses reads like scan
ming the Blue Laws of the ear,y
American days.
When Auto intoxication" Means
Listed rs Auto -IntoxicStion On.
finds that in the month of September
1925, no less than 30 persons were ar
rested for the above offense. while IN
September 1926 a total of Al appear
ed before various courts in Maine for
the same offense. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
however, in State Police parlance
does not mean self poisoning"
1t means getting "Ossifed" and Al
tempting to climb telegraph poles
ana trees and approa ching au,o-
monies with YOUR own car while I'M
der the influence of Tigers Milk
or something of that sort.
An Interesting Comparison
Closer scrutiny Of the Scandal
sheet" shows that during the month
or August. 1925, 43 persons were ar
rested In Maine for reckless driving.
while during August of this wear the
number of arrests for this offense
had increased to IL. In August.
l925, total of but II arrests were
made for exceeding the speed limit.
while during the same month this
year the State Police brought In AZ
Offenders for the same violation. The
INST Is a long one. and the increasing
arrests shows all alon,. the line.
The reason for the selection OF Au-
gust as a typical month is that motor
vehicle traffic is at it's peak at that
time, and the duties of the State
Police are thus in full swing. AS an
easy way of showing the real gain
IN the work of the department in
1926, the following list is given:
Afrests Tor Aug. Aug.
Niolatlon 1925 1926
No Operators Livense 80
Improper Registration 80. "A
w LiSitS ................ j is
Leaving Accident Unknown
Opstructing Traffic ...... 2
Operating Car Unregistered 0 10
This list could be continued to fill
several pages. as there are upwards
OF 60 offenses for which arrests are
made by the State Police. The total
number of arrests for the months of
July, August, September, October,
and vember in 1925 was 467, while
for the same period this year the ar
rests made reach the imposing figure
OF 1856. Which considerably more
than doubles the former amount and
certainly seems to indicate that
whatever else the State Police may
be charged with, they are making
plenty of arrests.
LIE, 70 4hn 1 es.cI.444.a Il. Al