The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-01

The nations police were
analysed in a 140-page study,
The commissions ninth publ
cation. It was made public by
the White House.
The report said there has been
"a loss OF public confidence in the
police of our country" due to "the
general failure of the police to de-
tect and arrest criminals guilty of
the many murders, spectacular
bank, pay roll and other holdups,
and sensational robberies with
guns"
Uncertainty Bad Factor
Uncertainty surroundin the
chiefs tenure of Office, it added,
seepS down through the ranks and
makes for restless, worried and
inefficient employees" The familiar
procedure of appointing police
chiefs was outlined, with the mayor
picking his man on the basis of
politicians recommendations, and
with the new chief never certain
how long he will be in Office.
Such appointments, the report
said, are usually the result of~popu-
lar outcry against the incumbent.
When such outcries, frequently in
spired by interested politicians, be-
come too loud, the mayor discharges
the chief.
The report said the new chief was
likely to be an inexperienced man,
who proceeds to Shake up the
force and jettison his predecessor
policies, on the broad theory that
they must have been wrong.
These organizations, taking
place in larger cities on an average
of about every two years, effectively
disorganize police efficiency, the re-
port said, and diminish the protec-
ton for which the public pays.
Urge Civil Service Control
The commission recommended
civil service protection for police
chiefs, by which they would be re-
movable only for proved cause. This,
it said, would enable the executive
to administer his Office without fear
or favor. Thus could be retained
in Office men of ripe experience in
their jobs.
The commission cited the case of
Milwaukee, which has had but two
police chiefs in forty-SiX years. A
Wisconsin law brings police chiefs
under civil service rules. Milwaukee
is cited in this and previous Wick
ersham reports as outstanding
among large cities in crime detec~
ton and prevention.
The commission remarked that
civil service requirements for police
chiefs would be violently opposed
by politicians, since 'in the main
the funds which really make sue
cessful campaigns possible come
from the habitues of vice, gambling
and bootlegging resorts"
Mentality Is Low
Policemen in general we're
characterized as of low average
mentality and education, made
ouately trained and ill-equipped
for their work. The report con-
cludes that more than IS per cent
of the country's policemen are not
equipped mentally for their work.
A better system of training
policemen was urged as pre-
requisite to appointment.
The commission felt that if police
chiefs we're removed from politics
and police standards and training
generally raised, with concomitant
living wages" for patrolmen, there
would be no dearth of high caliber
material, and much of the furious
antipathy against all law inforce-
ment officials" would be removed.
Inadequacy of police equipment
was deplored, and wider use of
radio and teletype recommended.
Detroit was commended especially
for its use of the radio.
State police were commended
generally. The report recommend
ed them as a regular feature Of
state government.
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