The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1944-07-22
SEEMING MORE NEGRO POLICE

For the above reasons Police Commissioner
Lewis ]. Valentine has been constantly requesting
more and more Negro police. This move has been
opposed in the past by certain rights organza
tions in Harlem as attempt 10 segregate Negro
policemen exclusively 10 Harlem. They have de-
manded and obtained the distribution OF Negro po-
licemen 10 the Broadway area, 10 points in Brooklyn
The Bronx and elsewhere IN New York as tenet OF
their creed and program that Negroes be integrated
AS result. white policemen have heen on
duty In an almost exclusively white Negro comnu-
nity With little knowledge and sympathy for the
Negros problem economic. social and civic these
white policemen have rightly STAYED away from
matters OF strictly racial personalities such as inc
crimes Negroes commit againsf one another, and
devoted most az their efforts 10 protecting white
business places and The white people who come 10
Harlem for pleasure or for business since TIC roi
ing Of 1913. there has been pronounced 'endeneS
on the part OF white policemen IN Harlem 70 leave
all the most fragrant cases Of misdemeanors or
crimes In Harlem severely alone None wan, the
stigma OF starting another race riot.
CONTROL or STATION - LOST
With woeful lack OF qualified Negroes tho
force the problem has reached stacmae that has
resulted in a situation in which complete control has
been lost over the hoodlum element in Harlem. Tho
result was the shooting episode among The Sabers'
tho Bachelors and the ChancellOrs There will he
more such incidents. There will be more killings.
murders muggngs se-snatching and acts Of van
dalism. The reason is apparent Mayor LaGuardia,
in his zeal 10 protect minoriiies In New York city.
has several occasions shown his disfavor OF rough
handling OF Negro thugs and hoodums by the cops.
Whether The Mayor gave orders to the cops not 10
shoot in last years riot is true not the fact re-
mains that The hoodlum element in Harlem got r
boost In morale from the low casualty rate Of that
outbreak.
Rut the police are In mood 10 defy the Mayor.
Their guns itching to rid the streets OF some OF
the hcodlums young and old who doing the city
no good az all who degrading their and
making II all the harder for decent law abiding Ne
groes live in the worlds largest Negro comnm-
nifty. This attitude by the cops seen in the gang
fght mentioned above. The police conyerged on the
park the minute the young thugs started fighting
among themselves Turning away from their own
warfare the young hoodlums starred shooting at tho
police That VAS the mistake that spells probable
doom 10 Harlem's young gangs. The cops went 10
town with their guns.
Many mothers son Is in line for the grave a.
n hoodlum in Harlem this summer. The lack OF pa
renal control Is now paying OF The refusal OF
Negro mothers and fathers to properly supervise
their children is heng rewarded with police bullets
moving down these undisciplined Youngsters
in the midst OF il all Negro churches and ministers
losing face with the people they purporiedly
serve because Of abject failure TO teach dccencv
respect for the rights Of others and pride az clean
cut manhood II not Of race 10 their congregations.