New Britain herald., 1928-09-08
OPINIONS AT ODDS
 ON! THIRD DEGREE
Alleged Police Hsthods ApproI- d lnd Condemned by Laymea

'The third degree''-the term ap- piled everywhere to designate the use of physical persuasion or even torture by police officials bent upon wrlnging from accused persons ad- missions of guilt of offenses of which they are suspected-frequent- ly comes to public attention in New Britain. although not nearly as often as it does in cities having larger population and more crime. It has been the subject of many investiga- lions. possibly more than have been directed towards any other phase of police activity, and. proof has been obtained in many places that brutal treatment preceded the making of confessions, especially whore the principals were known to have crim- inal records and therefore were not likely 10 complain to authorities who were in a position to take action. The history of the New Britain police department is not without its flare-ups of the same nature. al- though the truth of complaints, within the past several years at any rate. has not been shown. Conse- quently, when an cutcry is made, either by a prisoner or his repre- sentative, the public is as a rule di- vided as to belief. Naturally. there are persons who do not hesitate to give full credence to stories that re- fleet to the discredit of an organized body of law enforcers. In this class are those who have had inti- mate dealings with the police and are slow to forget their experience. Perhaps, some years ago. an officer pushed someone who did not move quickly enough when ordered to do so. or possibly one or more officers were too quick to display their au- thority in one way or another. Such incidents in the life of private citizen whose nature does not per- init Of easy forgetfulness and for giveness undoubtedly react with convincing strength when discussion arises of the latest report of ill treatment of suspects.
 Police Have Their Friends
 On the other hand. the police de- partment of any community does not want entirely for friendly sup port when circumstances arise to place the organization as a whole. or its individual members. seeming Iy on the defensive. There are many citizens who discount at once every mention of brutality by the author- lties, and there is also the middle group, made up of those who con- tend that if the offensc is serious enough, and if there is sufficient reason for suspecting the detained individual. justification for strong arm methods exists. In New Brit ain, 1t would seem from conversa- tion with a representative number of residents, including former and present officials of the government, that the community it not disposed to become agitated over the sub- ject. and unless there is an out standing instance serving to bring the matter 10 the height of a we'll defined issue. or an official inquiry to air the entire question. it will continue to be dormant, aroused cnly slightly and occasionally.
 Theory Is Debatable
 One local resident who was ap- preached for an expression of opin- ion on "the third degree" recently pointed out that if a police depart ment was unable to make out a case careful investigation and shrewd deduction, combined with the ability to ferret out the essen- tial facts either from suspects or it should be better to droy l the matter in hand or replace those i having charge of such duty, while another's opinion was that the enor- l mity of the crime should determine | the methods used to apprehend the offender. with any treatment of sus- l poets. within reason. allowable. ! From various other sources came different theories. including the as- sertion that there has always exist | cd a fine distinction between crude. l brutal tactics of the ruffian, and the piercing. penetrating cross examina- ton of the skilled interrogator. either of which might we'll be class cd as the use of "the third degree" Woven through the whole question. is the debatable theory that the ends l justify the means except possibly in