Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-13
Glorifying the Police.


gangster, too often ct the expense OF
the average police department, which
in turn becomes the butt Of public
ridicule and censure, is condition and
not a theory that the President right
eously deplores The country needs, as
the President points out, the glorif1-
cation Of the policemen who do their
duty and give their lives in public
protection"
But Il one must look far down into
the structure of human nature to find
an explanation of that phenomenon
Of behavior which Is expressed IN SYM
pathy for and glorification OF the GRIM
inal and outlaw, it unfortunately re-
uuires only a superficial examination
Of present conditions to account Tor
some of the periodic upheavals in pub
lie opinion that loosen floods of abuse,
mayhap blind at times. upon the public
officers who serve the community In
supprsssing lawbreakers and PUNISH
ing the criminals.
There is a curious and paradoXlcal
element in human nature that tends TO
make a hero of a public enemy Inc
James boys. Billy the Kid, Robin Hood
and AL Capone have enjoyed the role OF
heroes, with time and myth tending TO
soften the ugly facts that otherwise
would spoil the part. And latter-day
type of sensational exploitation OF GRIM
mails hs catered to the sentiment that
sympathizes with the underdog and
seeks to ennoble him, carrying the 6usi-
ness to disgusting and vulgar extreme.
But public establishment probably
accounts, as much as anything else. 1or
lack of the confidence and trust in the
police that is necessary and, therefore,
desirable. The police cannot function
efficiently without possessing the conf
dence and respect of the community.
But when the community Is disil-
lusioned, and its mental picture OF what
q policeman ought to be is destroyed by
sordid and revolving revelations, such
as those that have been made from time
to time In nearly every large city OF
the United States, the public disap-
pointment and shock cause bitter
suspicion and disgust. 1t is true, as
President Hoover said in his address to
the police chiefs gathered at st. Peters,
burg, that criticism arises from the
exception and rot the rule in police
conduct" A few members Of a large
police force may by their acts under
mine public confidence in their blame
less fellows. But this is because the
public demands perfection in the police
and the discovery that such perfection
does not exist is followed by extraordi-
narily bitter disappointment.
The policeman Is the small boys
hero, and he continues to be until the
small boy grows up and finds that he
has been worshiping an illusion. 1t
is the task of the police chiefs to pre-
vent such establishment by q con-
tinual process Of housekeeping that
requires no interference from the out
side; that weeds out the unfit before
their accidental discovery becomes
scandal discrediting the force. That is
one thing and the President enumer-
ates the others as "the vigilant, uni
versal backing OF public opinion; the
'Implacable support Of the prosecuting
authorities and the courts" and clos
ing up Of the loopholes in our crimi-
nal laws through which irresponsible,
yet clever, criminal lawyers daily find
devices Of escape for the guilty" which
are necessary II the police are to en-
Joy full confidence and respect and
are to be successful in stamping out
"the excessive crime and remove the
worldwide disrepute which hes dis
graced some of our great cities"
The public should, as the President
urges. glorify the policeman and make
Of him popular hero for the courage
and devotion he shows in protecting
our citizens" And this, when deserved,
will follow. The public loves hero.