The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1942-01-02
These Are Our Keepers OF The Peace

Heralded as the Savior of the
Police Department, Captain Her
bert D. Kimsey was chosen chief
of police by Mayor Millikin as a
climax in one of the most thrilling
dramas in the history of the city
council, Hide and Seek"
Immediately following his eleva-
ton to office, the chief of police
and his entire department faced
fierce inquisition staged more
for political notoriety than the
actual facts required by law. The
mass staying of three persons and
wounding of seven others at 40 B
Second Avenue, stunned Seattle
and conferred attack on ethe po-
lice department. The. coroner, Sc
attle's political jester, played the
leading role. He summoned jury
and finally learned what all Seat
tie already knew.
At the inquest the quick retort
of Chief of Police Kimsey that he
assumed personal responsibility for
his acts as chief, disarmed the jes-
ter and his facetious attitude as
sumed a more serious inquiry.
Assistant Chief of Police Walter
B. Kirtley has been referred to as
the Iron man of the department"
He has been through so many bat
ties, physical and intellectual, he
never waits for the attacks ON his
adversary, but usually boards tn
elton in his den. He fought the
city council to draw in their own
chambers during the hectic 1885
investigation.
Had Assistant Chief Walter B.
Kirtley been in command at Pearl
Harbor, he would have been cruis-
ing around and in all probability
would have met the Japanese long
before that fateful hour. AS it is
the Chief of Police, the Assistant
Chief of Police and the entire de-
partment are working IL hours
every day, subject to call at all
times, with no extra pay for over
time.
With their multitudinous war
time duties and traffic control, Sc
attic today is better policed than
ever. Speak easies are ruled with
an iron hand, prostitution has
been clamped down, the gypsy row.
ers and women who ply their trade
where they catch their game are
no longer a menace to our public.
All Race citizens have a kindly
feeling toward Chief of Police
Kimsey and his Assistant Walter
B. Kirtley for the quick manner
in which their orders are being
carried out to rid East Madison
st. of the hoodlums who have
nightly been a terror to citizens.
Seattle is fortunate: They are
our keepers of the peace.
Officer Claude Norris one of the
popular patrolmen at 18th and
jackson was welcomed back to his
old familiar haunts with the adj
nainistration of Chief of Police
Herbert Kimsley.
Usually patrolmen follow their
Chief in or out of the sticks and
rise or fall in favor. Chief Kims-
ley established new rule where
by all patrolmen may witness a
change of scenery with an urban
country relief.
Business men in concentrated
effort have often determined an
officers status.
Officers Norris and Kicks
wear the distinctive label of "Po-
liceman." Their popularity may
give them an indetrminate tenure,
They too are our Peace officers.
For several years the citizens of
East Madison have witnessed an
intermittent wave of crime that
threatened the peace and safety of
tn edistrict. Law was more honor
ed in the breach than in its observ-
ance.
Conditions grew worse. The
Northwest Enterprise and the Rev
Fountain w. Penick personally ap-
pealed to Chief Kimsey and the
Assistant chief Kirtley for relief.
The response was immediate. The
orders would be obeyed. Officer
Carl Norris was our hope. He
came he saw, was welcomed by
business men, law observers, but
snubbed by the DULLES.
The law bows to no man. Today
law and Carl Norris has the re-
spect and confidence of our citi-