The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-21
Trouble
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cessarily encourage youngsters to
Violate the law. obviously it is no
discouraging factor as can be seen
in reports that youngsters have
laughed across the street at police
men on the other side who attempt
ed TO reprimsnd them. Few dis
turbances become police cases but
4. is believed that even the small
number could be reduced If Ne
sroes were on the two police forces
pltrolling the community Negro
policemen, it was pointed out,
would probably demand respect OF
the youth OF the community not
because they are more stern than
policemen of any other nationality
but because in most instances, the
Negro policeman knows practically
everybody on his beat, hence he
would be able to go directly to the
home Of youthful offenders with
out waiting for Identification from
compliments. It should be under
stood. hoWev that the youth Of
Highland park are not to be looked
upon as "hoodlums" looking for
trouble; the youth Of that COM
nunity falls in the same category
as the youth OF any other commun-
i;y, and among the younger people
can be found those who. even with
out pronounced criminal ienden-
cies, are a little harder to handle
than others.
How Police Could Help
In the opinion OF the Rev, S
W, Bankhcad. Highland park boys
are not naturally bad, and once
you gain their respect they give
the community very little trouble
4 have talked with many boys
who were pointed out TO me as
problem children but I have had
the pleasure OF knowing that they
are neither criminal minded nor
habitual trouble makers" Reverend
Bankhead said. 81 believe that the
right approach to the youth prob
lem-as well as the adult problem
in the community-is what is lack
ing, and believe Negro police
men in the community would pro-
vide at least a step forward in
that approach" he added.
This opinion is shared by Thomas
Briscoe who dealt with the police
problem in his 1871 report on juve-
nile delinquency. However. Mr.
Briscoe's report suggests that a pc.
liceman on the beat does not solve
the problem of juvenile Delinquent
cy, as is seen in the following
paragraphs which indicate that po-
licemen must have some special
training COPE with situations
that frequently arise in the com
munity
The policeman has had no prep
aration which enables him TO deal
adequately with these problems,
He does not think in terms of So
cial problems or social adjustments
He thinks in terms Of proof Of
violation Of statute or ordinance.
That the business Of a modern
police department is to prevent ar
rests rather than to make them
is an idea that penetrated only a
handful of departments in this
country at first But during
the past few years police depart
ments everywhere have become
aware Of the Importance OF crime
prevention work which has been
stimulated by j. Edgar Hoover
One finds individual policemen on
their own initiative or urged on
by superiors making attempts at
delinquency prevention: Many OF
these are not only interesting but
successful
The fundamental need all over
the state-as indeed all over the
country-is for more money to per-
nit the payment of higher salaries
and the hiring of more capable
men men who are in sympa--
thy with the prevention point Of
view. The most Immediately prac-
teal improvement in most police
departments would be for local
leadership 10 discover and support
such men, make it possible for
them to have some instruction in
mental hygiene child psychology.
community organization. juvenile
delinquency and similar subjects.
and gradually introduce the case
work, point of view into the police
treatment of Juvenile cases. The
next step obviously should be to
increase the number of such men
and give them adequate facilities 10
do their work"
The First Stem
Since II Is agreed that thcre is
a need for Negro police with the
requirements pointed ont bv Mr.