The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-17
POLICE RAPED
BY Church MEN
Continued From Page y
was expected that the Federal quiz
yes eventually would dovetail.
The Letter
The letter follows:

The Letter
The letter follows:
"DeaI Chief Johnson:
1.-The attention Of the members OF
the Downey Avenue Christian
Church Mems Club has been called
to a number Of statements in the
newspapers of recent date, which
suggest that you have taken UNI
bragg at remarks made by Mr.. w.
H. Remy. prosecuting attorney. at a
recent meeting Of the Mems Club.
and that you have therefore taken
an unfriendly attitude toward Mir.
Remy.
THE members Of the Mems Club
are greatly surprised at the attitude
newspapers, and feel that you must
be acting on an inaccurate report
of what transpired.
May we give a resume of what
took place at the meeting referred
to?
"Mr. Rcmy was speaking about
the difficulties In the way Of law Ell
fOrcement. and dealt with them
under three general heads: Q) The
connection between police and poll
tics, (2) cumbersome legal procedure,
including professional bOndsmen and
trick lawyers, () the parole and
pardon system.
Emphasis Equal
mo more emphasis was placed
on the police situation than on
either of the others.
THE statements made in regard
to the police department were, for
the most part, such as has been sub
Stimulated frequently by stories pub
lished in the news columns OF our
daily papers.
1.-THE essential thing was that the
department as whole is in the grip
of politics. Surely this cannot be
questioned in view of the fact that
the law requiI es half the policemen
to belong to each Of the major pO-
IiticaI parties in the city. Nor does
il seem possible to deny it. when
each change in the city administra-
ton brings with it a complete re-
shifting of the entire force.
And when certain policemen are
definitely proved to have connived
open violation OF the law. and are
retained on the force after receiv.
ing "a slap on the wrist and a
fine, a matter given wide publicity in
our papers recently. what reason
other than political influence can be
given for their retention?
Tipping OF"
"Mr. Remy referred to other
things which are more or less
matters of common knowledge to
all who read the papers. such as
the tipping Off Of persons whose
places are about to be raided. the
retaining of men on the force. who
have been guilty OF drunkenness and
the like. But. dear chief, nothing
was said derogatory to you person
ally.
"On the contrary the statement
was made that we have good chief
of police, but that he too is hampered
by the political system. Nor was
condemnation passed on every po-
liceman. in fact. Mr.. Remy stated,
that he felt IS per cent Of the police
force was sincerely and honestly
trying to enforce the laws
''Mr. Remy gave his hearers
the impression that he could
abundantly prove all his asser-
tions. His attitude throughout
was calm and judicial.
His one constructive suggestion.
I'm regard to the police force. was
that the police be taken entirely out
of politics and put on a civil service
basis, and promotions and assign
ments be based solely on merit.
Agree With Suggestions
with these suggestions. every
one of his hearers, we believe,
agreed. His address was a powerful
indictment of a system which good
citizens deplore, and would like to
see corrected, but had nothing in it
which could be construed as an at
tack on you.
"May we say that statements and
actions attributed to you since the
address, such, for instance. as the
withdrawal of detectives assigned to
Mr.. Remy's department, look to the
club members as a failure to cooper