Evening star., 1952-09-12
Better Law Enforcement

Police Chief Murray's agreement in general
with the recommendations of the Senate Crime
Committee should help to impress the next
Congress with the need for prompt action to
strengthen law enforcement here A number of
weaknesses in the police and prosecution systems
were pointed out by the committee in its report
last June Some of these defects can be cured
only by special legislation. Chief Murray has
made it plain in his comments to the Commits
sioners on the report that he is aware of these
shortcomings and Is as anxious as the COM
mittee to remedy them.
OF particular interest in connection with the
Barrett phase of the senatorial inquiry was Chief
Murray's Endorsement of proposal for dismissal
ana forfeiture OF benefits in cases of police
officers who evade congressional or administrative
questioning on the ground of possible self
determination. The police chief stated: "The
department joins with the committee in approv-
ing the type of law which would provide that
any person taking an oath OF Office to discharge
public duty in the District of Columbia should,
If he asserts the constitutional privilege against
self-incrnination in any official proceeding
relating to the discharge OF these duties and
obligations, forfeit his Office and all benefits
derived therefrom. do not feel that a person
who has obligated himself to discharge such a
public duty should be sheltered by cloak of
immunity" Atpresent there is no law here under
which such an officer may be deprived of his
pension unless he has committed certain specified
crimes. The law certainly should be amended
to cover cases Of policemen who refuse to answer
pertinent questions about their associates, out
side sources Of income and the like
It is noteworthy, too, that Chief Murray
has no objection to the plan for giving the
United States attorney his own staff of investi-
gators. In the past the prosecutor has had to
FplV the n01ice tn ", ioio
evidence and making special Investigations
This system obviously is not practicable when, as
occasionally has happened, some member or
members Of the Police Department are under
investigation. small efficient staff of special
detectives would be helpful to the United States
attorney in preparing cases for the grand jury
and collecting additional evidence needed to
insure conviction of the guilty.
Being properly proud of the record Of his
force since he took over the Superintendency and
being concerned with raising the morale of the
men after the recent investigations and criti-
cisms, Chief Murrays loneliness regarding one
statement in the Senate report is understandable.
He feels that all of his men were put under a
cloud when the committee said that persons
not specifically mentioned in the report could
not be considered to be exonerated automatically
It may be that others in the department need
to be investigated. II the committee has any
information to warrant further inquiry, it owes
it to the Police Department and the public to do
some more exploring. Fortunately, however,
there are growing indications that the depart
ment, under Chief Murray, merits the full con-
hdence and support Of the community it
currently serves so well The quick capture
yesterday Of a holdup suspect by pair of alert
privates Is only one Of numerous evidences that
Washington now is getting effective and reliable
police protection.