Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-18
conrtesv 70 Policemen.

For probably the first time in history
a city oficial fnds II necessary TO
warn the residents of community
that they will suffer penalties II they
talk back 10 or abuse o policeman,
regardless of whether or not the police
man is abusive to them" And this
unique warning was given not for the
beneft Of tough mining town popula-
ton, but to the citizens of the National
Capital by the corporation counsel, on
the theory, perhaps, that Washing
tonians, being more literate, If less
tough, might have greater vocabularies
at their command TO ruffie the sensitive
feelings Of the guardians of the law.
The remarkable part Of this state
ment Is that since time immemorial it
has supposedly been the policy TO pro-
tect citizens against onslaughtS of brow
beating policemen and yet the corpora
ton counsels warning would put the
shoe on the other foot and protect po-
licemen against citizens. All police
men. even rockies, know how 10 pro-
tect themselves against the citizen who
'sasses" them or IL abusive 10 them.
For the citizen there Is practically no
protection.
A typical case might be. cited as fol-
lows: The motorist is driving at night
with his tail light out He is over
taken by policeman. The officer de-
mands y view of his driving permit
In terms OF biting sarcasm and abuse.
Follows an inspection of the permit
and with a dictatorial warning-if the
motorist remains speechless in awe Of
the uniform-the officer orders him to
post collateral at the precinct station
Now take the other side of II. The
motorist has been stopped for the same
offense, but. feeling q bit belligerent
he responds: "Ofncer, how could
know the tail light was out? II
you spent your time chasing real
offenders against the regulations this
city would be better on. You must be
new on the force and I'll report you for
this" What happens then1 Drive UP
to the patrol boxi" orders the police
man. and, after ordering the wagon,
escorts his prisoner, none too gently, to
the vehicle for = ride to the station
house.
Now, going back 10 the first case. The
citizen wishes to complain Of the ON
GERS tactics, but what must be the
foundation for his complaint? Dismissal
Of the case in court, Of course. Failing
in that there Is nothing for him 10
do. and he cannot very well succeed be-
cause his tail light was actually out.
So he must take the browbeating Of
the ofacer without redress Of any kind.
But how about the sensitive police
man when . citizen talks back TO him2
Az q preliminary measure he sends him
in disgrace 10 the police station in the
wagon and as q secondary and quick
punishment he charges him with dis
orderly conduct in addition to the
trafic count. And he sees TO 1t that the
mctorist the next day IL convicted on
both counts. and II by any chance the
motorist should escape penalty there
are other opportunities II the ofneer
cares to be particularly vigilant in re-
gard TO one individual.
Naturally, there should be no abuse
or "wisecrackinE" on either side when
a policeman arrests . motorist for q
trafic violation. But, and there must
be some reason for It, IL has been the
policy Of all police departments for
many years TO stress courtesy on the
part Of policemen. Consequently, re-
versal Of this policy In the National
Capital would be considered extraordi-
nary and its effect on the small minority
of the department who still adhere to
browbeating tactics In the arrest OF
reputable citizens for trivial offenses
might be most deplorabls.