Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
WICKERSEIAM GROUP NDICTS
POLICE SYSTEMS OF COUNTRY


mel; the force, is too small to warrant a
regular training school; the sheriff as
head of the force may change every
four years or so as happens In some
States where the sheriff may not sue
coed himself"
Urging the expanded collection of
police records, Garrett asserted the most
complete bureau of its kind was located
in Sacramento, Calf. He pointed out
records from all sources, special investi-
gators were provided and competent
StatiStician employed.
The California bureau, he said, cost
but approximately $40 900 a year in 1927
and 1928, but was instrumental in re-
covering stolsn property alone worth
six times that amount.
The report dealing with the selection
Of police personnel said Kansas City
had presented an example Of wholesale
iiSmiSSals at the start of each new police
regime. In 1928, 1t reported, approx
mately So per cent Of the force had had
less than three years service.
1t added that five Of seven lieutenants
taking an examination In KansaS City
had not gone beyond the graded school.
while among sergeants 81 of IS had
never entered high school, with % of
80 detectives In the same category. OF
IIlC. DOL PsISOIS Taxing bIlS UeSI IN QuSS-
ton, It said, 10 per cent had no train
ing above the grades.
Few High School Trained.
In Detroit, it was reported, an snaly-
sis in 1925 of 142 patrolmen showed ~
per cent had never entered high school
Describing an intelligence test in
which the results obtained by Univer-
Sity OF California freshmen were COM
pared with those from the police forces
of several cities, the report said 81 per
cent of the freshmen were shown intel
lectually ut, against ~ per cent for the
Los Angeles force, 20 per cent for Min
neapolis, 10 per cent for Kansas City,
and IT per cent for Cleveland.
The report on police training praised
the program offered at Detroit; de-
scribed the school at Louisville as one
progressing from the type dedicated
only to the recruit; that at Cincinnati
as one of the most complete and spe-
cialized." and that at Berkeley Calf
as opening up "a new field Of school,
ing" in which training was given be-
yond the mechanics Of police problems
The report cited as splendid ex-
amples Of the new type Of schooling"
the courses offered at Northwestern
University and the San Jose tCalif.)
State Teachers College
The last IS years have inaugurated
the change" the report said. The next
IS may see q great chain Of instruction
throughout the country which will make
possible an education for every police
man."
The commission itself gave no con-
illusions, but the study by the three ex-
perts made the following suggestions:
Remove Politics"
The corrupting influence of politics
should be removed from the police or
ganization.
The head of the department should
be selected at large for competence, a
leader, preferably a man OF consider
able police experience. and removable
from ONCE only after preferment Of
charges and a public hearing.
"Patrolmen should be able to rate
b on ths Alpha test ia standard In
telligence test). be ablebodied and Of
good character, weigh $50 pounds,
measure feet 9 inches TALL and be be-
tween 81 and 81 years of age. These
requirements may be disregarded by
the chief for good and SUFFICIENT reasons.
Salaries should permit decent living
standards, housing should be adequate,
eight hours work, one day or weekly.
annual vacation, fair sick leave with
paw, just accident and death benefits
when in performance of duty, reason
able pension provisions on an actuarial
basis
Adequate training for recruits, off,
GERS and those already on the roll Is
imperative.
Thorough Communicate
The communication system should
provide for call boxes, telephones, re-
call system and Tin appropriate cir
cumstances) teletype and radio
Records should be complete, ade-
quate, but as simple as possible. They
should be used to secure administra tive
control Of Investigations and of depart
ment units in the interests of efficiency
"A crime prevention unit should be
established If circumstances warrant
this action, and qualified women police
should be engaged to handle juvenile
delinquents' and women's cases.
State police forces should be es-
tablished in States where rural protec-
ton Of this character is required.
State bureaus of criminal inveStiga-
ton and information should be estab-
lshed in every State"
REPORT SURPRISES ALCOCK.