The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-05
STATE CONTROL
OF CITY POLICE
FINDS SUPPORT
Crime Study Group Drafts
Proposal for Submission
to Assembly.

lice board was considered today By
the Indiana Committee. volunteer
crime study group, for presentation
70 the 1885 state legislature.
The proposal was drafted by
Professor J. J. Robinson Of the In
diana University School of Law,
vice-chairman Of the committee.
Another proposal for presenta-
ton to the legislature providing ex-
tenSive changes in organization Of
civil and criminal courts was rec
commended by a subcommittee on
administration of justice of the
state Committee on Government
Economy.
Purpose of the police reform
measure is to divorce police work
entirely from politics. one of the
principal detectives of the Indiana
Committee, Professor Robinson ex-
planned.
Independent Units Replaced
State and city police departments
would be drawn into a single organ
ization. supplanting present indi-
vidual units.
The Capitalization would be man
datory for all cities in First, Second,
Third and Fourth class and would
be optional for smaller cities and
towns.
Control would be vested in a CEN
trail body of nine members, chosen
from an equal number of designated
police districts in the state by ma
jority vote of Circuit Court judges in
each district.
Rotating membership on the
board is planned to prevent a COM
plete change in personnel resulting
in sudden and radical changes Of
policy.
Mobile Division Urged
The central board would be en-
powered to employ a police COM
missioner and from two to four dep
uties, removable only for cause by
the board as executive hsads of the
forces.
The state force would be COM
posed of a mobile division. for state
wide patrol and administration
municipal divisions, composed of
present police forces in cities above
the fifth class, to be operated as
parts of the state force; and the
present Bureau of Criminal identi-
fication and Investigation.
State funds would finance ex-
penceS Of the board, commissioners,
a police training school, the Bureau
of Identification and Investigation.
Department of Inspection and other
state units such as the mobile divi-
sion.
Cities Would Share Costs
Operating costs of local divisions
would be paid by municipalities,
but the state board would fix the
budgets.
Under the plan, small cities could
have their entire police work taken
over by the state force. Local
Boards of Safety would lose all
power of hiring and firing or pro-
noting local police officers.
Sweeping changes in Indiana laws
to expedite criminal court procedure
and compel civil litigantS to share
trial costs are recommended in a
report on file today for conSidera-
ton of the 1885 General Assembly.
Dean Bernard G. Gavit, Indiana
University Law School, and Austin
v. Clifford, indianapolis attorney,
members of the subcommittee on
Justice administration of the Gov
ernmental Economy State Commit
tee. filed the recommendations.
Outstanding are a recommended
ton that the number of judicial cir
cults be reduced from los to 80 and
a criticism of existing statutes per-
hitting venue changes, which. legal
authorities protest, delay criminal
trials.
Deposit in Civil Actions
Plaintiffs in civil actions would be
required to post a SIS deposit to
apply against court costs with the
filing of a complaint. A schedule of
court costs. more nearly commensu-
rate with actual expenses, is recon-
mended.
Municipal Court actions would re-
auire a SIS deposit. Municipal judges
would be deprived of their power to
suspend costs against persons con-
victed in criminal actions.
A cost bond should be required
from persons seeking a change of
venue.
Moreover, the committee suggests
that the Supreme Court name the
new Judge in case Of a change OF
venue.
Longer Term for Judges
Judges OF all courts. excepting the
Supreme and Circuit Courts, should