Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-01
REPOR I
CR ILLS
POLICE
Civic Law Enforcement
Of Nation Condemned
By Wickersham Body.
POLITICS BLAMED
Utter Inefficiency OF Most
Departments Said To
Be ScandalOus.

! WASHINGTON, Aug1- U.p) -
American police structure, from
the lowliest patrolman to the poll
itician who controls his destiny, was
condemned today by the Wicker
| sham commission.
With a few exceptions, city po-
lice forces were represented as, DOM
mated by corrupt politicians, admin
istered by inexperienced or incom-
petent executives in constant fear
of their jobs, and with personnel
severely handicapped by sketchy
training. inferior intelligence, made
quate wages and insufficient equip
ment
Blame for these conditions was
placed chiefly on the control exer-
cised by politicians over appoint
ment OF police chiefs This con-
troll, the commission concluded, has
resulted in designation of incompe-
tent executives who are replaced
with such Kaleidoscope rapidity that
they have little opportunity to FAM
iliarize themselves with their duties.
The nations police were analyz-
ed in 140 page study, the commits
sion's ninth publication. 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,
| payroll and other hold-upS, and
sensational robberies with guns"
Uncertainty surrounding the
chiefs tenure of office, it added.
seeps down through the ranks and
makes for restless worried and
inefficient employees" The famil-
lar 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.
Reorganizations, taking place In
larger cities on an average of about
every two years, effectively disor-
ganize police efficiency the report
said, and diminish the protection
for which the public pays.
Praise Milwaukee
The commission recommended
civil service protection for police
chiefs by which they would be re-
movable only for proved cause.
The commission cited the case of
IL ,x,t,tn her but txatr,
police chiefs in 46 years. A Wiscon-
sin law brings police chiefs under
civil service rules. Milwaukee Is
cited in this and previous Wicker
sham reports as outstanding among
large cities in the matter OF crime
detection and prevention.
Policemen in general were char
acterized as of low average mental
ity and education, inadequately
trained and ill-equipped for their
work. The report concludes that
more than rs per cent of the coun-
trys policemen are not mentally
equipped for their work.
A better system of training police
was urged as prerequisite to ap-
pointment. maintained police
schools. teaching not only technical
subjects but also the broad aspects
of crime prevention. child delin-
quency and other social problems.
where favored. 1t also was suggest
ed that universities include courses
in police work.
The renort was based on Studies
by David G.. Monroe and Earle w.
Garrett of the University of Chicago
under supervision OF August Volmer
professor of police administration
aty the university, and since 1905
police chief of Berkeley, Calf.