Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-05

MAJ. Ee$Se-S determination "a snaiNzs
the Police Trial Boards recorks may
throw an interesting light on she Ell
fclsncv ~ that body as an agency for
the enforcement Of discipline. II MAJ
reveal that many u The cases brought
before 4 are trivial. which could as well
have hsen disposed Of by precinct con-
trlandsrs Il NAV show that many o.
them involve "repesteys," whose trial on
their first ofTense should have separated
them from the police fierce, and il may
show that many Of the cases are
brought before the trial board by lrsts
citizens who seek to avenge themselves
against officers whose sole offense has
been the performance of their duty. The
result c; Inspector Shelby's study mar
be valuable and perhaps will lead 70
some needed revision in the present
procedure. But if there is anything
radically wrong with the morale of the
force II is 10 BE- doubted if an examina-
ton Of trial board records will accom-
rnsh much IN pointing out the root OF
the evil.
Ma. Hesses inquiry should not stop
at the trial board If his hands are
tied by political interference; If he is
unable 10 enforce discipline without
bringing down upon his head the impor-
t,Ini,ies of members of Congress or in
fuential citizens, he should make this
fact known. with instances to prove the
no,nt. If the Civil Service Commission
does not furnish him the right material
this fact should be demonstrated to the
satisfaction Of the taxpayers, so that
the condition may be corrected by rails
ing the standards. IF his precinct conf
u1anders are not capable Of command
those who are capable should be found
and the weak sisters weeded out.
There are other points to which Ma.
Eesss might give his attention. A police
school exists. for instance. for the train
inz of recruits But 1t appears that re-
er,IIts are often taken away from this
school and put on patrol before they
have mastered even the theories OF goo1
rolice work. In some Of the precinct
sss.ions there is a noticeable lack OF
that form of discipline which. in NIL
ifary organization. counts strongly IN
building I'D morale Policemen lounge
about in the presence of their Superior
nqHeers Conversation between them Is
informal when it should be strictly
formal The salute is relegated in favor
Of half-nearted raising Of the hand
IN the general direction Of the cap.
inspection of men going on duty pears
little resemblance TO the ceremony that
,no,,ld for the sake of discipline ano
rsns-sie. De made Of It. These points
ray appear small and trivial But
morale and discipline are born IN t1'
police school and precinct station, not
before the trial board.
There may be nothing wrong with the
pot.ce force. Commissioner Dougherty
contends that spirit and morale are
ftsn. Coincidence and circumstance
alone may account for the commission
If fer oFenses oy members oi the
ferre within short space Of time. Blu
nothing has vet occurred upon "nich
n, base ans wl7oiesale indictment OF tne
organization. or to prove that any grave
condition exists beyond the misbehaxor
Of 2 few individuals
Mai. Hesse's inquiry therefore n1ay
he pursued with the alternate aims o.
demonstrating that the police force =
ell that It should be. or Of ctscoPefhs@
weak potnts that sytnpathetic punic
vii assist him ~ renewing.