Medford mail tribune., August 28, 1960, Image 37

he is warned to "go along with the system."
This leaves him three choices: he can throw
in with the corrupt policemen; he can quit; or he
can live an uneasy existence trying to be honest
in the midst of corruption. Many of those who
choose the latter course become cynical and dis
illusioned enough that they go "on the take"
themselves. This is the built-in system; it had been
operating in Chicago for years.
Destroy "the System"
Wilson is attacking it in several ways. He is
a strong advocate of patrolmen working alone be
cause he feels there is much less temptation for
a lone cop to become involved in small delinquen
cies. He also has stopped the sale of tickets to
charity affairs by Chicago policemen, a task that
has now been taken over by local newspapers.
"I believe," says Wilson, "that a policeman
should not, at any time, at any place, for any
purpose, nor under any circumstances, accept
money from a citizen."
2. Public Laxness.
A northwest-side social organization consists
mainly of white-collar workers who enjoy an
evening of poker and a handball session once a
week. They're generally decent, well-meaning men
who provide a small college scholarship for the
son of one of their members.
They found expenses were outstripping income,
and didn't want to raise membership dues. In this
dilemma, one of the members came up with a
solid idea. He had some "connections" through
which he could get a slot machine. The owners
of the machine would take a small cut off the
top; the rest of the profits would belong to the
social club.
The machine was installed, and the club's debts
disappeared. A second machine was brought in,
and dues were reduced. A few weeks behind the
second machine came a pair of police officers on
whose beat the club was located.
"Those machines are illegal, you know that,"
they said.
"Sure," answered the club president, "but it's
for a good cause kids and all that. Why don't
you guys drop in for a drink and a sandwich on
the house once in a while?"
This sort of thing goes on hundreds of thousands
of times every year all over America. The public
gets just about what it demands in a police force.
Policemen, says Wilson, are "subject to the usual
frailties of mankind."
Stop "Influencing" Policemen
Another nail is driven inexorably into the coffin
of public morality every time a motorist tries to
buy off a traffic cop, a businessman seeks special
privileges by slipping money to the policeman on
the beat, an officeholder tries to help a constituent
circumvent the law, or a parent attempts to buy
his child's way out of trouble.
3. Outside Influence on the Police Department.
A local politician serves on the board of direc
tors of a harness-racing track licensed by the
state to operate for three weeks each summer.
The politician is able to arrange it so that a dozen
off-duty policemen can make some extra money
directing traffic at the track. They're grateful to
him, and he sees to it that when there are openings
for promotions on the force, "his boys" get their
proper share.
Al Capone once boasted that he gave $30 million
a year as payoff money to politicians and public
officials. Obviously, as long as these politicians
controlled police appointees and promotions, as
they did in Chicago, they could guarantee im
munity to anyone who paid the price. This system
is so deeply rooted in Chicago that it will be a
long and arduous job to dig it out. And Wilson
is aware of this.
Has Attack Plan
How does Wilson plan to go about the massive
task of cleaning out the deep-set dry rot in Chi
cago law enforcement?
His program encompasses six major steps, all
of which he considers essential in building and
maintaining an effective, incorruptible police force
in any community including yours:
Establishment of an undercover intelligence
unit within the police department to investigate
in complete confidence the activities of known
criminals and complaints against police officers.
(Do you know uifiat happens to police complaints
in your louin?)
Requirement of regular reports from patrol
men to "force them to recognize and bring into
the open any doubtful activities on their beats."
(fs it easy jor your police to overlook "friendly"
violations and are you ever a party to them?)
Removal of police from political influence.
"There should be no unwholesome sponsorship to
get on the force nor help to get promotions," says
Wilson. "The entire department must be operated
strictly on a merit basis." (How are your police
selected and promoted?)
Establishment of an effective training program
to educate rookie policemen to their responsibil
ities and instruct them on how to go about their
work. Are your local cops adequately trained in
law enforcement?)
Hiring of responsible and experienced police
administrators, in whom there is no question of
integrity or leadership qualities. (Are you aware
oj the qualifications of your local police officials?)
Build a Tradition
Building a tradition of pride in the police
force. Wilson considers this the single most im
portant element in a strong, honest, effective police
department. To achieve it, he suggests high police
standards, a thorough investigation of every police
applicant, adequate salaries ("but you can't buy
honesty and integrity"), merit promotions, and
a general upgrading of the prestige of law-enforcement
officers.
"Policemen," Wilson insists, "must be neat
spiritually and morally. And above all, they should
be gentlemen. A tough man is an insecure man."
Armed with this blueprint, the citizens of a
community must do the rest. They can expect
effective, incorruptible police protection only if
they supply the moral climate and necessary tax
money to make it possible. And this isn't being
done in far too many American towns.
Complacency isn't the answer in your town or
any town. Those Americans who read about the
Chicago police scandals and say placidly, "It can't
happen here," should take another tack. They
should have a hard look at their own law-enforcement
agencies and their own moral climate in the
light of Superintendent Wilson's analysis of the
causes of Chicago's shame.
Then they can say with assurance: "We're
making very sure it doesn't happen here."
family Weekly. Auguit 21, I960 5
Appointed to clean up the Chicago Police
Department, Superintendent Orlando Wil
son confers with Mayor Richard Daley.
Before his selection, Wilson was professor
of criminology at University of California.
Part of four patrol-wagon loads of stolen
goods confiscated at homes of seven
Chicago policemen is placed in evidence.
I IU.IJ LIIIJJ.W. .