San Diego Union, January 18, 1944

CHIEF INTERVIEWS COMPLAINTS IN CHARGE OF POLICE BRUTALITY

Interviews with several Linda Vista residents who signed a petition charging patrolman James H Harrell with undue brutality in making an arrest indicated they believe they saw the officer choke and rabbit-punch the prisoner, Police Chief Clifford E Peterson, said yesterday. He is continuing his investigation.

Leroy Kime, 31, of 4136 Thirty-eighth st., a laundry truck driver, whom the Linda Vista residents reported was the victim of brutality will be in Peterson's office tomorrow morning for an interview, the chief said.

OTHERS CLEARED

In a report to City Manager Walter Cooper yesterday, Peterson cleared other officers, accused by Edward S. Hannibal, 30, of El Cajon, of manhandling him Nov. 11 and robbing him on $10 in the city jail.

Harrell told the chief he used a well-known judo hold on nerves of the neck in subduing Kime and jarred the nerve centers in the upper back before placing his prisoner in the car in order to assist him in regaining consciousness.

"The police department stands between criminals and persons threatening the liberty of the public and it must not be emasculated by fear," Peterson said.

"I am trying to find out the facts - whether Harrell used an approved judo hold in subduing Kime, or whether, as there petitioners believe, he used undo brutality. Until this is proved satisfactorily, one way or the other, Harrell remains under indefinite suspension." the chief said.

The police chief transmitted to Cooper copies of reports made by various officers involved in the Hannibal case.

Peterson wrote to the manager that he felt, "after investigation of all phases of the arrest of Hannibal, that he was not mistreated in any way." He pointed out that the reports of the officers "frankly state" that the man had to be forced to enter the police car and to submit to a search.

"It does not seem to me that they should be expected to await the pleasure of a fighting drunk for arresting, searching and booking," continued the chief, "nor do I expect them to ask any fighting and go to jail with them."

The chief offered to display the methods of police routine to anyone interested, by stating in conclusion:

"I would be pleased to have any interested parties participate in, or observe, the arrest, transportation, booking and searching of prisoners, particularly fighting drunks."

OFFICER COMMENDED

The city manager said that he had not received any report that the police chief concerning the arrest of Kime last Tuesday. Cooper said that a report probably would reach him later this week.

Meanwhile, the city manager had before him a letter from G.F. Finck, manager of the Coronet theater commending Harrell's activities in running down Logan Heights hoodlum gangs that for a time caused what Finck had described as a reign of terror in and about his theater.

San Diego Union, November 27, 1934:

NEW 'TREAT 'EM ROUGH' POLICY OF N.Y. POLICE RAISES STORM

NEW YORK, Nov 26 (A.P.)--

New York's two-fisted police commissioner, Lewis J Valentine, laid down a "treat 'em rough" policy today.

"The sky is the limit" on thugs and gorillas and assassins, he declared, urging his men to get there first with the most bullets.

"Let the crook be the one carried away in the box, not the cop."

Valentine, who was once demoted from inspector to captain because his raids on gambling games aroused the ire of politicians, said later he wanted to impress upon his men that they need to have no fear of political reprisals.

"In making this statement," he said, "I appreciate that the men at my command have intelligence enough to know how far they can go.

"I won't stand for police brutality in any sense of the word. But the first law of nature is self-preservation. I expect my men to defend themselves."

Valentine was aroused at the lineup when there came before his view a velvet-collared, sleek haired man accused of complicity in a murder.

"Look at him, the best dressed man in this room" said the comissioner.

The suspect, who had a record of 18 arrests but no convictions, looked as if "he had just stepped out of a bandbox." he added.

"He doesn't work and he doesn't know what work is. When you get up against men like him don't hesitate. I don't want these men coming here looking as they had just left a barber chair."

------

BRUTALITY CHARGED

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26

Generally unfavorable sentiment that occasionally became sharp and violent criticism was aroused in police circles and among civic groups here today by the "muss-em-up" policy, advocated by Police Commisioner Lewis J. Valentine, of New York, for application to known criminals.

"That's not our idea of real police work," Sheriff Eugene W. Biscailuz said today. "It strikes me as being a little bit theatrical to stage a strong-arm act every time you make an arrest."

Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin, widely known church and civic leader in southern California characerized Commisssioner Valentine plan as one of "sheer brutality."

"It sounds like sheer brutality to me," Rabbi Magnin declared, "and brutality never solved the problem of crime. . . . Beating up a criminal, even if he is an habitual offender, accomplishes nothing. Brutality and blood breed more brutality and blood."

------

ROCHE DISSENTS

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26 (A.P.)

Police Commissioner Theodore J. Roche Believes no police officer is justified in "brutality" simply because he is arresting a known criminal.

Commenting today on statements in New York by Police Connissioner Lewis J Valentine, who declared for a policy of "marking and mussing up" all known arrested criminals. Roche said:

"I doubt if anyone is justified in giving an order of that kind. No one is justified in using brutality simply for brutality."

------

'DEAD RIGHT'

DENVER, Colo., Nov. 26 (A.P.)

Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, of New York, is "dead right" in the opinion of Denver's new chief of police, George Marland, in the matter of instructing policemen to "shoot first" said Chief Marland, who is a veteran of 21 years' service in the Denver police department. He became chief recently in a shake-up of the department.

------

INQUIRY RECALLED

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (A.P.)

The statement of Lewis J. Valentine, New York police commissioner, that known criminals should be brought in and "mussed up" today recalled here the controversy raised by the Wickersham law enforcement commission suggested that a new constitutional amendment should be adoped if necessary to stop widespread "police brutality".

The Wickersham commission cited instances of third-degree methods in more than 40 cities which brought immediate denials from police officals thoughout the country.

------

NO PROBLEM HERE

San Diego is free from the gangster typed of criminal said Police Chief George Sears last night in commenting on the order of a New York police commissioner to "treat 'em rough" and therefore the problem does not apply here.

"San Diego has no ganster element and no super-criminals such as are referred to," Sears said.  "Once in a while our officers are cornered with a hold-up man and have to shoot to defend themselves. Otherwise, we keep a close watch on arrivals and hurry known criminals out of town about the time they get here.