The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-08-11
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IN NEWS
I:NIsISlSANS3 WHITE

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RECENT POLICE BRUTAL
ITY Within the last few
weeks the police department Of
the city Of Detroit has been ac-
cused Of police brutality among
the Negroes Of our population
the Negro leadership Is all upset
about police brutality.
Policemen have committed
what seems 10 he unjustifable
acts Of brutality on some Negro
citizens In Detroit. The police de-
partment has raided Negro
homes without warrants. In some
cases Negroes have been brutality
handled by officers of the law on
the least provocation. Men have
been taken on the police depart
ment who are unified for such
Jobs by training and tempera-
ment.
Negro leadership has begun TO
lay the blame at the door of Com
missioner Ballcnger for the cases
OF police brutality. Negro leader
ship feels that every case Of police
brutality must be because Mr. Bal
lenger has not done his duty"
Mr.. Ballenger is supposed TO fol-
low around every policeman on
the beat and see that they treat
everybody right Negro leadership
is trying desperately to end its
honeymoon with Mr.. Ballenger
with as little pain as possible. The
reason for this is that Negro lead
ership had hoped that and planned
that Mr.. Ballenger would work
miracles over night in Transforming
the police department. Miracles
cannot be worked with an organi-
zation as large as the police de-
partment
There are some rats in the po-
lice department who have been
there for long time They have
some rights 10 their jobs which
Ballenger nor any police commits
sioner can overcome out OF just
desire.
Ballenger has done wonders with
the police department In view OF
the opposition that he has had
from the Department and outside
sources Many people expected
him to 90 into the department with
little regard for practically and
common sense Mr. Ballenger has
fooled such people He has been
police commissioned and an edu-
Gated man al the same time He has
been aware Of the problems Of
running a police department OF a
large city. This has been TO his
credit II he had not been aware
OF the problems inherent in run
ming a police department. Mr.. Bal
longer would have done sane police
work irreparable harm for long
time TO come.
The reason that Negro leader
ship is seemingly so disappointed
is that Negro leadership had no
idea ~ the possibilities in chang
ing the police department Negro
leadership along with many other
liberals felt that ell was needed
was a man who thought correctly
about police work. Ballenger
thinks and feels right about police
work. But he is limited in the
amount of change that he can.
bring about in a short space OF
time.
On the other hand Negro leader
ship is so eager for friends that il
a man leans a little in the direc-
ton OF Negro feelings the Negro
leaderhip takes the person without
question.
Mr.. Ballenger has not changed
He is AS devoted 10 the cause Of
Justice and democracy now as he
has ever been 1t is unfair for Ne
gro leadership 10 act and talk
otherwise. There has been no case
taken "a Mr.. Ballenger that has not
oeen treated with fairness and IN
Partially based upon the facts
presented. The facts presented" is
important When Negro leadership
has facts that show the partially
OF policemen these facts should be
presented. Facts arc different from
feeling.
MANY people present their feel
ngs in given matter and try 10
make the facts Al the feeling The
feeling among many people Of coll
or is that there has not been prog
ross made toward democracy in
the police department The facts
are far different however. There
are more fine outstanding Negroes
on the police force than we have
ever had before
The commissioner does not try
10 whitewaSh bad situation. Ad.
mt,edly there are some bad stu
atoms. II is the business Of the
community 10 bring them 10 the
attention of tho police department
when discovered
We arc no, trying 10 say that the
police department is perfect A
long way from perfection We are
/ trying very hard 70 say that Mr..
Ballcnger has made good COM
missioner for All The people Tho
little sllv criticisms that he is now
getting is unwarranied as far as
/ Mr.. Balleneer is concerned Negro
leadership sometimes is too QUICK
10 divide itself from a given situa-
ton because NJ fow diSagreeable
incidents Maybe II will take more
lime for Negro leadership to- be-
come moro realistic.