Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-08
The New Police Trial Board.

Rv the adoption of Maj. HeSSeS rec
ommcndation for the reorganization OF
tbn notice trial board and putting the
new p,an immediately into operation
the District Commissioners have EVIL
denced a determination to proceed WIN
thorough reformation of the force
the need of which has been clearly m
dictated by recent happenings. Puollc
confidence in the morale and ehclehcy
of the police organization has oeeh
Severely shaken BY the numerous ac-
cusatiors of intemperance and neglect
of dirty that have come before the
hoard and by the inadequacy OF the
nenaltics meted out to offenders. While
there is no suggestion of corruption
OF f1acrant failure of performance on
the part of the police as whole. the
feeling has grown into virtual convlc-
ton that a dis:ressingly large percent
age of the members have failed to
measure up to the requirements.
Whether the fault lies in the lack OF
p
dsrelctiors and the uncertainty OF
the dismissal of major offenders against
the police regulations is question. 1t
is now sought. by the reorganization
of the trial board, to assure a more
thorough inquiry into each case, with
the prosecution of charges placed in
the hands of an assistant corporation
counsel, acting as representative OF
the public. The officers who have been
assigned to duty as members OF the
board are all competent and depend
able They are veterans OF the force
and upon their judgment as to de-
linquencies the community may with
good reason for the present rely.
The police force should be above all
suspicion of incompetence or indiffer-
ence to the fullest eXactionS OF duty.
1t should be maintained upon the basis
of strict discipline. Intemperance, in
any degree. is to BE- prohibited under
/ penalty of dismissal. Slackness of con-
duct on or off duty is to be con-
demned. Abuse of power and brutality
of behavior are to be rated as cause
for removal Negligence in any par
ticular is to be punished by admoni-
tory penalties and if repeated by dis
missal.
Only by rigid system of punishments
can the standard of the force be main
tanned. The position of policeman is
that of a public servant, charged with
the duty of a strict enforcement of the
law. His relations to the public are
such as to require from him at all
times the utmost regard for the rights
of the law-abiding citizen. His power
of e~reSt Is only based upon obvious
breach of the law committed within
his own view or upon reliable report of
offense from a citizen. He is pro-
tective, not an oppressive agent. He
must be strictly sober, respectful, hu-
name and dependable.
The newly organized trial board must
do justice 10 the policemen. 1t must
gardless of associations and free from
prejudice 1t is a court of justice,
chosen with care to hear a particular
line of complaints and charges. Its
proceedings are public and henceforth
they will be observed with the closest
scrutiny to assure the community that
the policemen who fail in duty are
adequately punished, that undesirables
are weeded out, and that those who are
innocent OF offense are freed from ac-
cusation. If the board holds to this
standard 1t will have rendered valuable
service. If it falls short of it another
method of dealing with police derelic-
tons must be sought and found. For
the Capitals police force must be
brought to the point where it is above
suspicion of delinquency or demoraliza-
ton.