Hungry Horse news., 1954-08-06
The Cop and Col. Falls

It's tough to be cop in a town. and Columbia
Falls is making the mistake of taking Byron West
its one policeman, for granted.
An example was the city council Monday de-
Gliding that study should be made of stop signs
in the community. We also believe that Columbia
Falls may have too many stop signs. The council
assigned its able street commissioner to the project
1t would seem that this matter of driving safety
belonged to the police department, which should
call in state highway patrolman or other person
who has made study of driving safety.
Minority attitude by the council toward the
towns policeman has not been particularly
commendable There resolution month ago
in language not particularly fitting to council that
West "stop using gestapo tactics"
A part of Columbia Falls at least doesn't like
the idea that all persons should receive the same
treatment when it comes to traffic tickets and other
violations. West doesn't seem to make exceptions
and we've seen men uptown certainly "put OUT
when an acquaintance of theirs from Kalispen
given ticket for double parking, or a turn in
the middle of the block
1t also may have been a mistake by West for
example, when he gave member of the city coun-
ell ticket for illegal parking
West has not been too considerate of some of
the town taverns He's been accused of driving
customers away by his too strict Interpretation of
exactly when is man a tipSy driver.
In addition man who doesn't find the side
walk wide enough Saturday night, and won't get
home, may find himself in jail.
West tends to wade into situations of law in
approach has not been too polite at times, and
frankly he would get along better, if he were
diplomat. However, the able diplomat isn't
going to be policeman in this town.
We've got reports back of 'cussings West has
taken when stopping offenders Few of us would
take it. We also know that he takes car keys away
from who have passed capacity by about three
or four drinks.
Actually it's about time for Columbia Falls
and its council to re-evaluate the policeman we are
tending to take for granted.
We wonder if there is another community in
Montana approaching 1000 people with just one
policeman. There's also a deputy sheriff stationed
here, and state highway patrolman resident but
not for local matters
Furthermore since there iS@a Up that looks for |
violations instead of avoiding TAey,the thug COM
ing to Columbia Falls may pick up bullet.
West also has been diligent about checking
doors, and being around town. He gets 1920
month, and it would that his pay rate is down
around rs cents to 81 an hour.
The city counc-cop situation has not been
and of these days, therell be dash
ing about to find a new policeman Our thought is
that Vests replacement won't be good man
as he's been Good law enforcement officers are
rare and it's too easy to be just law officer and
sidestep the matter of enforcement.
Can law and order be maintained in Columbia
Falls with the various compromises as to viola
tions that have been suggested? Personally we
think of the town as having been too strict traf
lie matters On the other hand this community has
oeen virtually free of major traffic accidents. MR