Evening star., 1936-06-16

least as good as in Milwaukee, but
there is another side to the picture.
In Washington last year, the police
made $4,000 arrests. Milwaukee po-
lice made only $1,000. There were 81
murders in Washington last year. but
only one in Milwaukee. Police here
made IS, 900 trafflc arrests in 1935-in
Washington the total was 10000.
These figures, Laubenheimer said
do not necessarily mean that the res
idents Of Milwaukee are by nature
more law-sDiding.
1t all comes back TO the question
Of enforcement" he said. No politi-
clans can dictate TO us. When we
catch a law-bresker we hold him and
his case cannot be fixed Then, pun
iShment is sure and swift. We have
no grand jury system here, and it Is
not unusual to arrest q murderer one
night, try him and have him on the
way 10 the penitentiary by the follow
ing afternoon.
The professional criminal steers
clear of Milwaukee and our residents
have respect for laws because they
know they are going to be enforced"
Milwaukee is governed by Socialist
mayor. Daniel w. Hoan. and a Com
mon Council OF 81 Aldermen. Only
five members of the Council are 81
cialists, however, the others being
nom partisan.
Police Under Civil Service.
The police department, which Is
entirely under Civil Service, is headed
by q police and fire commission OF
five members, who serve without COM
pensation except for a $40-s month
expense allowance per member. The
respective duties and powers OF the
police chief and the commission are
clearly defined by statute. this elm
mating all buck passing"
The police chief Is made wholly
responsible by law for the conduct
of his department and he serves
during good behavior, with the right
of appeal to the courts in event of
dismissal. 1t is significant that Mil
waukee has had only two police chiefs
during the last 48 years. Chief
Laubenheimer, who is 81 years old
came up from the ranks" and has
served Is years.
Higher Subordinates are
appointed by the chief, subject to
chief cannot dismiss q man outright,
but has full power Of demotion, from
which there is no appeal
Recruits are appointed for q one
year probationary period, and are
dropped without the right Of appeal
If they fail to make good. Salaries
are $l70 q month for the first year,
SITS for the second, and q maximum
for privates Of $3.50 during and after
the third year.
One OF the most advanced features
OF the department is the police school,
which has q curriculum comparable
to that Of the average college. The
men attend classes on their own time
and must go to the school through
out the entire time they are on the
force. They are instructed in every
thing from the latest methods Of
scientific crime detection to advanced
This school has been q wonderful
factor In building up our force"
Chief Laubenheimer said. "It has
enabled us to organize q highly effi-
cient detective force by bringing out
the talents Of the relatively few men
with special ability for detective work,
and 1t soon shows up the men who
are unfit. 1t had enabled us to recog-
nize the incompetents before they
get into responsible positions. The
school is popular with the men, too,
because they see In it an opportunity
TO make a real career out of police |
work. And that. In the final analysis. !
IS what creates the spirit necessary |
10 an effective police department"