Evening star., 1941-07-01
Capt. Callahan Hits Practices
Of Department in Testimony
Charges Distrust, Unfoir Disciplinary Action,
CIiques and Promotion Through Influence

law enforcement is OF such nature
that it is not always possible to give
specific and detailed orders covering
any contingency which may arise,
men must be made 10 feel that
where they exercise good Judgment
and act in accordance with the
established policies of the depart
ment, they will receive the full sup
port of their superior officers. and
that the superior will back them and
accept the responsibility if anything
goes wrong so far as 1t Is humanity
possible and proper for him to do
So Conversely. they must be made
TO know that if they act contrary
to the policy of the department or
without justification or in an un-
reasonable manner. that regardless
of whether or not such act results in
complaint or condemnation by those
outside the department, they will
still be called to account by their
superior officers for their improper
action.
lIltIC 10 IlOlIlIIlS WI sc III any
organization than the formation of
a clique While men are permitted
to exercise their own discretion in
affiliating themselves with religious
or fraternal organizations outside
the department. there can be neither
excuse nor justification for bringing
these associations into their work.
In every organiza ton there is likely
to be an individual or individuals
gifted with ability to sell their own
ideas of what is right and proper
to other men, especially to those
vino are easily led. When such an
individual begins to gather around
him a group of stooges or yes-men
who hang upon his words and who
toady to his wishes or try 70 cul-
tivate his favor to the prejudice Of
other men, he becomes a dangerous
man. There are many ramifications
of these cliques. Neither religious,
fraternal, nor social affairs should
have any place in arranging the
members of any law enforcement
organization into groups. The selec-
ton of men for promotion. for
assignment TO particular duties,
either pleasant or disagreeable. must
be solely on other considerations
than those of religion. politics or
fraternal affiliations.
Men must be made to know from
the very outset that the only
standard upon which they can hope
to achieve advancement will be pro-
fessional ability and capability.
Examinations must be absolutely
fair and impartial and calculated
solely to test these qualifications.
The same rule must be adopted and
followed throughout the depart
ment; inequalities must be ironed
out and equalized by the superiors
sitting as a board and should not
be too much Influenced by the rec
concentrations of an individual
commanding officer. Examination
questions should be of such a ma
ture as to demand of the aspirant
an exceptionally good knowledge
not only of the rules and regula-
tions, the laws and ordinances, but
of his ability to interpret and apply
them in practical manner to
everyday problems.
Cosby Quality Cited.
ut necessarily follows that a close
mouth is an asset in law enforce
ment work and that a gossipy man
seldom makes good officer. How
ever, there must be certain mutual
confidence between members of the
department, and when men working
on the same case or debating pol
icies for the whole department
withhold information from each
other which should be interchanged,
the result is not favorable. Trust
worthy and honest men should
know what the plans of the superior
are and there should be no secrecy
and reticence between men with re-
gard to the plans upon which they
must both work or about which
there should be an exchange of
ideas and information. Such con-
fidences must necessarily be re-
spected, but keeping men "in the
dark" or denying knowledge of
matters which may be and should
be talked over confidentially de-
stroys confidence and makes it i'm
possible to cooperate fully.
Intrigues calculated for the ad-
vancement of the interests of a
particular individual should be dis
couraged. So-called "gentlemen's
agreements" by which it is planned
to secure advantages for one person
as against another are always bad
and nothing constructive has ever
come of them. Political activity CAL
culated toward the advancement of
individual interests is destructive of
ro0raln op6 djcniplipo opd vat ~ l.,