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Graduation Exercises, Police Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, July 17, 1970
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Graduation Exercises, Police Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, July 17, 1970
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The original documents are located in Box D30, folder "Graduation Exercises, Police
Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, July 17, 1970" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press
Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Destribution:
10
capies
to
Mr.
Fod only
maffice
Copy
AN ADDRESS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
AT GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., POLICE ACADEMY
AT UNION HIGH SCHOOL
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
8 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1970
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Mr. Superintendent, members of the 1970 graduating class of the Grand Rapids
Police Academy, their families and friends:
As we meet here tonight we are all filled with a feeling of pride. It is
a most natural feeling, a justifiable feeling, one that traces to a knowledge of
accomplishment and of prospective community betterment.
The members of this graduating class have completed a course of rigorous
training. They are now equipped to begin an important and arduous task -- that of
protecting the public safety.
In the words of the ancient Romans, "The people's safety is the highest
law." In my view, there is no job more vital than that of being a guardian of the
people's safety. It is a most important trust.
We have in our national constitution a Bill of Rights, the first ten
constitutional amendments, which became effective Dec. 15, 1789. Nearly 13 years
earlier the State of Virginia adopted a Bill of Rights which is the father of all
American bills of rights.
The Virginia Bill of Rights declared: "Government is, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation
or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best
which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is
most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration."
We in America are concerned about safeguards against corruption and
oppression in government, and we have legislated to the end that the people shall
be protected against such maladministration. We are also concerned, and rightfully
so, with the public safety and the proper administration of justice.
The members of this graduating class will assist in the achievement of one
of government's most vital functions -- that of attaining the highest possible
degree of public safety.
The lot of the policeman has always been hard. It is particularly difficult
FOR
today when social forces are at work that increasingly involve the police in crowd
(more)
GERALDS
Digitized from Box D30 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
--2-
control and in peace-keeping. This subjects officers of the law to a wide variety
of verbal and physical abuse.
As you go about your peace-keeping tasks, please remember that for every
detractor and revolutionary who shouts foul names at you there are thousands of
supporters who are grateful for your efforts and thank God that there are still
men today who are courageous enough to stand between the constructive law-abiding
citizen and outright anarchy.
The overwhelming majority of the 200 millions of people in the United States
admire you and are keenly aware of the dignity of your work.
They know your work is meaningful and that you are dedicated to serving the
community. They know there is no greater service a man can render than to save the
life of another.
This is why I said at the outset that there is and should be a natural
feeling of pride here tonight. I personally am delighted to be here to tell you
men how very proud I am of you.
You graduates, as you begin your chosen work, can be proud in the knowledge
that except for you your fellow citizens of Grand Rapids would be in greater danger
and might very well suffer or die. You can be proud in the knowledge that you are
select men, men selected because of your special qualifications, men who have
volunteered to risk your lives for others.
The public safety. Another way to say it is peace in the streets.
We hear a lot about peace these days. But what peace is more important to
the American citizen than peace in his own back yard and peace out on the street
in front of his home? You are the keepers of the peace. There is no job more
important.
You know it constantly amazes me that there are some Americans, badly
misguided Americans, who call policemen fascists.
The truth is that fascism will only come to America if there is a complete
breakdown of law and order, with the American people demanding a tight and brutal
centralization of governmental authority in order to ensure their own bodily safety.
So you will be serving as front line troops against fascism.
Fascism is hateful. It is the complete antithesis of democracy. It is
synonymous with the creation of a national police force.
To the extent that local citizens help their local policeman do his job they
are erecting a barrier against fascism --- against the creation of a national police
force. And the ridiculous revolutionaries who pelt police with rocks and bottles
(more)
-3-
are creating situations which could lead to the very oppression they falsely
complain of.
Members of the Congress are anxious to help strengthen local law enforcement.
At the same time, they are taking every precaution against the creation of a
national police force.
That is the reason Congress approved the Law Enforcement Assistance Act,
which provides Federal aid to the states and local communities on the basis of
comprehensive state plans for fighting crime.
Michigan is receiving an increasingly large slice of Federal funds under
this Law Enforcement Assistance Act. In fiscal 1969 our allocation was $1,732,820.
It grew to $8,580,000 in fiscal 1970 and will climb to an estimated $15,521,000 in
fiscal 1971.
So we are roughly doubling the amount of Federal assistance for local law
enforcement this year. And we should also remember that the Law Enforcement
Assistance Act requires the states and local communities to match Federal grants
with additional funds of their own. The result is that new resources for crime-
fighting are increased by large increments but the basic responsibility for
protecting the public safety remains where it belongs -- at the local level.
The Law Enforcement Assistance Act offers a real opportunity for improvement
in local crime-fighting --- for new ideas, new techniques and new equipment. In the
final analysis, the success of the program will depend upon how well local police,
the courts, the correction agencies and state and local governments respond to
the opportunity.
There are still other opportunities to step up and improve the war against
crime. There currently is a drive in progress to move 13 major anti-crime bills
sponsored by the Administration through the Congress of the United States.
I personally will not give up the effort to enact this legislation until
these bills have passed the House of Representatives, have received the final
approval of both the House and Senate, and have been sent to the President for his
signature.
The Congress in this session must act affirmatively on bills which would
give the Department of Justice new legislative tools to go after organized crime
and a better legislative vehicle for dealing with the problem of narcotics. These
are matters of the highest priority for this Congress.
I am a co-sponsor of these bills but it is not from pride of sponsorship that
I speak. I firmly believe that this legislation is a matter of the greatest urgency.
(more)
-4-
Crime control is a complex affair. As you very well know, the job does not
end with an arrest. What is involved is a highly complicated process, including
prosecution, trial, sentencing and, hopefully, rehabilitation in prison.
We are making progress in one legislative area. We are all aware that the
crime crisis has caused a virtual breakdown of criminal justice in America.
Nationwide our courts are clogged with criminal cases, and the backlog has grown
to mountainous proportions.
I am pleased to point out that on June 2 Congress cleared legislation which
provided for 58 new permanent Federal judgeships and three temporary judgeships.
This should help eliminate some of the large backlog of pending Federal cases.
Nationally the backlog of criminal cases more than doubled in the last
decade although the number of cases filed remained relatively stable. The main
reason was the new emphasis on rights of defendants, flowing from U.S. Supreme Court
decisions. This lengthened the time needed to handle the average case.
I personally agree with Justice Hugo L. Black that the Supreme Court in the
last several years has hobbled law enforcement by insisting upon justice-defeating
procedures which unduly favor accused criminals.
We must attach far more importance to convicting the lawbreaker than to
assisting his efforts to "beat the rap." Fortunately the tenor of Supreme Court
decisions in recent months has changed for the better with the changed makeup of
the court.
We have also made great progress in our efforts to move against organized
crime. You may recall that the President recommended the creation of 20 Strike
Forces of prosecutors and investigators to wage all-out war against organized
crime. Thirteen of those Strike Forces now are on duty at strategic locations
throughout the country and the other seven will be established soon.
There has been a marked upturn in indictments and prosecutions of key
syndicate figures. There have been dramatic developments in the war against
dope -- such as the recent nationwide raid in which 139 persons in 10 different
cities were arrested. That was the largest Federal narcotics raid in the history
of this country. It is estimated that the ring involved handled 30 per cent of
all heroin sales in this country and 75 to 80 per cent of all cocaine sales.
This progress is being made despite the failure of Congress to date to
pass such vital anti-crime legislation as the Organized Crime Control Act. We could
make greater gains if such legislation were enacted, and I personally believe that
the pressure of public opinion will bring about the passage of the Organized Crime
(more)
-5-
Control Act before Congress adjourns this year.
In large measure, organized crime flourishes because its members can too
seldom be brought to justice. The Organized Crime Control Act will help in bringing
the chieftains of organized crime to book.
I expect Congress to approve measures which will:
Give the Justice Department authority to enter any community and shut down
illegal gambling operations.
Prevent racketeers from using illegally obtained money to invest in or take
over legitimate businesses operating interstate and allow the use of such antitrust
weapons as forfeiture of financial interest in case of violations.
Make it a Federal crime for local law enforcement officials to protect
gambling operations.
Elicit more testimony from arrested racketeers by providing for immunity from
prosecution -- thereby making the Fifth Amendment plea against self-incrimination
inapplicable --- where the information would do more to hurt organized crime than
would the prosecution of the individual.
Allow for the use in evidence of written statements from persons who might
otherwise refuse to give information for fear of their lives.
Provide for stiffer-than-usual sentences -- up to 30 years in prison -- in
cases of continuing felonious activity, a proposal aimed at leaders of organized
crime and other professional lawbreakers.
So help is on the way. We at the national level are determined to do
everything in our power to supplement the efforts of local law enforcement agencies
in the war against crime.
But no matter how many laws we in the Congress pass, the basic job of
keeping the peace rests with you men.
You will make our communities safe and guard our liberty against the
invasions of anarchy and the invasions of central power.
As you discharge your duties, there are some among our citizenry who will
call you names.
I feel sure you will not lose your cool when you consider that what the
letters P, I, and C really stand for are Pride, Integrity and Guts.
You are professionals now -- far more so than in the old days when the role
of the law enforcement officer was simply to preserve the peace, prevent crime and
apprehend the criminal. Now, in addition to the demands of his inherent role as
a law enforcement officer, the policeman finds himself involved in the delicate
(more)
-6-
fields of human relations and community relations. I personally feel that we in
Grand Rapids can rely on your judgment and discretion.
I think I speak for the entire community when I say you have our active
support and our respect. We know that you will serve faithfully in your duty
posts. We know that you will give the people of this community the kind of service
of which you and they can be proud. I, for one, am grateful -- and on behalf of
all of the people of Grand Rapids, I thank you. Congratulations!
# # #
AN ADDRESS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
AT GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., POLICE ACADEMY
AT UNION HIGH SCHOOL
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
8 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1970
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Mr. Superintendent, members of the 1970 graduating class of the Grand Rapids
Police Academy, their families and friends:
As we meet here tonight we are all filled with a feeling of pride. It is
a
natural feeling, a justifiable feeling, one that traces to a knowledge of
accomplishment and of prospective community betterment.
The members of this graduating class have completed a course of rigorous
training. They are now equipped to begin an important and arduous task -- that of
protecting the public safety.
In the words of the ancient Romans, "The people's safety is the highest
law." In my view, there is no job more vital than that of being a guardian of the
people's safety. It is a most important trust.
We have in our national constitution a Bill of Rights, the first ten
constitutional amendments, which became effective Dec. 15, 1789. Nearly 13 years
earlier the State of Virginia adopted a Bill of Rights which is the father of all
American bills of rights.
The Virginia Bill of Rights declared: "Government is, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation
or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best
which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is
most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. #1
We in America are concerned about safeguards against corruption and
oppression in government, and we have legislated to the end that the people shall
be protected against such maladministration. We are also concerned, and rightfully
so, with the public safety and the proper administration of justice.
The members of this graduating class will assist in the achievement of one
of government's most vital functions -- that of attaining the highest possible
degree of public safety.
The lot of the policeman has always been hard. It is particularly difficult
today when social forces are at work that increasingly involve the police in crowd
(more)
2-
control and in peace-keeping. This subjects officers of the law to a wide variety
1
of verbal and physical abuse.
As you go about your peace-keeping tasks, please remember that for every
detractor and revolutionary who shouts foul names at you there are thousands of
We
are
supporters who are grateful for your efforts and God that there are still
men today who are courageous enough to stand between the constructive law-abiding
citizen and outright anarchy.
The overwhelming majority of the 200 millions of people in the United States
admire you and are keenly aware of the dignity of your work.
They know your work is meaningful and that you are dedicated to serving the
community. They know there is no greater service a man can render than to save the
life of another.
This is why I said at the outset that there is and should be a natural
feeling of pride here tonight. I personally am delighted to be here to tell you
how very proud I am of you.
You graduates, as you begin your chosen work, can be proud in the knowledge
that except for you your fellow citizens of Grand Rapids would be in greater danger
and might very well suffer or die. You can be proud in the knowledge that you are
select men men selected because of your special qualifications, men who have
volunteered to risk your lives for others.
The public safety. Another way to say it is peace in the streets.
We hear a lot about peace these days. But what peace is more important to
the American citizen than peace in his own back yard and peace out on the street
in front of his home? You are the keepers of the peace. There is no job more
important.
You know it constantly amazes me that there are some Americans,
badly
misguided Americans who call policemen fascists.
The truth is that fascism will only come to America if there is a complete
breakdown of law and order, with the American people demanding a tight and brutal
centralization of governmental authority in order to ensure their own bodily safety.
So you will be serving as front line troops against fascism.
Fascism is hateful. It is the complete opposite of democracy. It is
synonymous with the creation of a national police force.
To the extent that local citizens help their local policeman do his job they
are erecting a barrier against fascism -- against the creation of a national police
force. And the ridiculous revolutionaries who pelt police with rocks and bottles
(more)
-3-
are creating situations which could lead to the very oppression they falsely
complain of.
Members of the Congress are anxious to help strengthen local law enforcement.
At the same time, they are taking every precaution against the creation of a
national police force.
That is the reason Congress approved the Law Enforcement Assistance Act,
which provides Federal aid to the states and local communities on the basis of
comprehensive state plans for fighting crime.
Michigan is receiving an increasingly large slice of Federal funds under
this Law Enforcement Assistance Act. In fiscal 1969 our allocation was $1,732,820.
It grew to $8,580,000 in fiscal 1970 and will climb to an estimated $15,521,000 in
fiscal 1971.
So we are roughly doubling the amount of Federal assistance for local law
enforcement this year. And we should also remember that the Law Enforcement
Assistance Act requires the states and local communities to match Federal grants
with additional funds of their own. The result is that new resources for crime-
fighting are increased by large increments but the basic responsibility for
protecting the public safety remains where it belongs -- at the local level.
The Law Enforcement Assistance Act offers a real opportunity for improvement
in local crime-fighting -- for new ideas, new techniques and new equipment. In the
final analysis, the success of the program will depend upon how well local police,
the courts, the correction agencies and state and local governments respond to
the opportunity.
There are still other opportunities to step up and improve the war against
crime. There currently is a drive in progress to move 13 major anti-crime bills
sponsored by the Administration through the Congress of the United States.
I personally will not give up the effort to enact this legislation until
these bills have passed the House of Representatives, have received the final
approval of both the House and Senate, and have been sent to the President for his
signature.
The Congress in this session must act affirmatively on bills which would
give the Department of Justice new legislative tools to go after organized crime
and a better legislative vehicle for dealing with the problem of narcotics. These
are matters of the highest priority for this Congress.
LINKLETTER
I am a co-sponsor of these bills but it is not from pride of sponsorship that
I speak. I firmly believe that this legislation is a matter of the greatest urgency.
(more)
-4-
Crime control is a complex affair. As you very well know, the job does not
end with an arrest. What is involved is a highly complicated process, including
prosecution
trial
/
sentencing
and,
hopefully,
rehabilitation
in
prison.
We are making progress in one legislative area. We are all aware that the
crime crisis has caused a virtual breakdown of criminal justice in America.
Nationwide our courts are clogged with criminal cases, and the backlog has grown
to mountainous proportions.
I am pleased to point out that on June 2 Congress cleared legislation which
provided for 58 new permanent Federal judgeships and three temporary judgeships.
This should help eliminate some of the large backlog of pending Federal cases.
Nationally the backlog of criminal cases more than doubled in the last
Crime
decade although the number of cases filed remained relatively stable. The main
reason was the new emphasis on rights of defendants, flowing from U.S. Supreme Court
decisions. This lengthened the time needed to handle the average case.
I personally agree with Justice Hugo L. Black that the Supreme Court in the
last several years has hobbled law enforcement by insisting upon justice-defeating
procedures which unduly favor accused criminals.
We must attach far more importance to convicting the lawbreaker than to
assisting his efforts to "beat the rap. " Fortunately the tenor of Supreme Court
decisions in recent months has changed for the better with the changed makeup of
the court.
We have also made great progress in our efforts to move against organized
crime. You may recall that the President recommended the creation of 20 Strike
Forces of prosecutors and investigators to wage all-out war against organized
crime. Thirteen of those Strike Forces now are on duty at strategic locations
throughout the country and the other seven will be established soon.
There has been a marked upturn in indictments and prosecutions of key
syndicate figures. There have been dramatic developments in the war against
dope -- such as the recent nationwide raid in which 139 persons in 10 different
cities were arrested. That was the largest Federal narcotics raid in the history
of this country. It is estimated that the ring involved handled 30 per cent of
all heroin sales in this country and 75 to 80 per cent of all cocaine sales.
This progress is being made despite the failure of Congress to date to
pass such vital anti-crime legislation as the Organized Crime Control Act. We could
make greater gains if such legislation were enacted, and I personally believe that
the pressure of public opinion will bring about the passage of the Organized Crime
(more)
-5-
Control Act before Congress adjourns this year.
In large measure, organized crime flourishes because its members can too
seldom be brought to justice. The Organized Crime Control Act will help in bringing
the chieftains of organized crime to book.
I expect Congress to approve measures which will:
Give the Justice Department authority to enter any community and shut down
illegal gambling operations.
Prevent racketeers from using illegally obtained money to invest in or take
over legitimate businesses operating interstate and allow the use of such antitrust
weapons as forfeiture of financial interest in case of violations.
Make it a Federal crime for local law enforcement officials to protect
gambling operations.
Elicit more testimony from arrested racketeers by providing for immunity from
prosecution -- thereby making the Fifth Amendment plea against self-incrimination
inapplicable --- where the information would do more to hurt organized crime than
would the prosecution of the individual.
Allow for the use in evidence of written statements from persons who might
otherwise refuse to give information for fear of their lives.
Provide for stiffer-than-usual sentences -- up to 30 years in prison --- in
cases of continuing felonious activity, a proposal aimed at leaders of organized
crime and other professional lawbreakers.
So help is on the way. We at the national level are determined to do
everything in our power to supplement the efforts of local law enforcement agencies
in the war against crime.
But no matter how many laws we in the Congress pass, the basic job of
each
keeping the peace rests with you
You will make our communities safe and guard our liberty against the
invasions of anarchy and the invasions of central power.
As you discharge your duties, there are some among our citizenry who will
call you names.
I feel sure you will not lose your cool when you consider that what the
letters P, I, and G really stand for are Pride Integrity and Guts.
You are professionals now -- far more so than in the old days when the role
of the law enforcement officer was simply to preserve the peace, prevent crime and
apprehend the criminal. Now, in addition to the demands of his inherent role as
a law enforcement officer, the policeman finds himself involved in the delicate
(more)
---6---
fields of human relations and community relations. I personally feel that we in
Grand Rapids can rely on your judgment and discretion. you and broadly triend in
I think I speak for the entire community when I say you have our active
7x
LAW
support and our respect. We know that you will serve faithfully in your duty
DPEOPLE to
PEOPLE
posts. We know that you will give the people of this community the kind of service
of which you and they can be proud. I, for one, am grateful - and on behalf of
all of the people of Grand Rapids, I thank you. Congratulations!
# # #
10 capies to Mr. Ford only
Office Copy
AN ADDRESS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
AT GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., POLICE ACADEMY
AT UNION HIGH SCHOOL
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
8 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1970
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Mr. Superintendent, members of the 1970 graduating class of the Grand Rapids
Police Academy, their families and friends:
As we meet here tonight we are all filled with a feeling of pride. It is
a most natural feeling, a justifiable feeling, one that traces to a knowledge of
accomplishment and of prospective community betterment.
The members of this graduating class have completed a course of rigorous
training. They are now equipped to begin an important and arduous task ---- that of
protecting the public safety.
In the words of the ancient Romans, "The people's safety is the highest
law." In my view, there is no job more vital than that of being a guardian of the
people's safety. It is a most important trust.
We have in our national constitution a Bill of Rights, the first ten
constitutional amendments, which became effective Dec. 15, 1789. Nearly 13 years
earlier the State of Virginia adopted a Bill of Rights which is the father of all
American bills of rights.
The Virginia Bill of Rights declared: "Government is, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation
or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best
which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is
most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration."
We in America are concerned about safeguards against corruption and
oppression in government, and we have legislated to the end that the people shall
be protected against such maladministration. We are also concerned, and rightfully
so, with the public safety and the proper administration of justice.
The members of this graduating class will assist in the achievement of one
of government's most vital functions -- that of attaining the highest possible
degree of public safety.
The lot of the policeman has always been hard. It is particularly difficult
today when social forces are at work that increasingly involve the police in crowd
(more)
-2-
control and in peace-keeping. This subjects officers of the law to a wide variety
of verbal and physical abuse.
As you go about your peace-keeping tasks, please remember that for every
detractor and revolutionary who shouts foul names at you there are thousands of
supporters who are grateful for your efforts and thank God that there are still
men today who are courageous enough to stand between the constructive law-abiding
citizen and outright anarchy.
The overwhelming majority of the 200 millions of people in the United States
admire you and are keenly aware of the dignity of your work.
They know your work is meaningful and that you are dedicated to serving the
community. They know there is no greater service a man can render than to save the
life of another.
This is why I said at the outset that there is and should be a natural
feeling of pride here tonight. I personally am delighted to be here to tell you
men how very proud I am of you.
You graduates, as you begin your chosen work, can be proud in the knowledge
that except for you your fellow citizens of Grand Rapids would be in greater danger
and might very well suffer or die. You can be proud in the knowledge that you are
select men, men selected because of your special qualifications, men who have
volunteered to risk your lives for others.
The public safety. Another way to say it is peace in the streets.
We hear a lot about peace these days. But what peace is more important to
the American citizen than peace in his own back yard and peace out on the street
in front of his home? You are the keepers of the peace. There is no job more
important.
You know it constantly amazes me that there are some Americans, badly
misguided Americans, who call policemen fascists.
The truth is that fascism will only come to America if there is a complete
breakdown of law and order, with the American people demanding a tight and brutal
centralization of governmental authority in order to ensure their own bodily safety.
So you will be serving as front line troops against fascism.
Fascism is hateful. It is the complete antithesis of democracy. It is
synonymous with the creation of a national police force.
To the extent that local citizens help their local policeman do his job they
are erecting a barrier against fascism -- against the creation of a national police
force. And the ridiculous revolutionaries who pelt police with rocks and bottles
(more)
-3-
are creating situations which could lead to the very oppression they falsely
complain of.
Members of the Congress are anxious to help strengthen local law enforcement.
At the same time, they are taking every precaution against the creation of a
national police force.
That is the reason Congress approved the Law Enforcement Assistance Act,
which provides Federal aid to the states and local communities on the basis of
comprehensive state plans for fighting crime.
Michigan is receiving an increasingly large slice of Federal funds under
this Law Enforcement Assistance Act. In fiscal 1969 our allocation was $1,732,820.
It grew to $8,580,000 in fiscal 1970 and will climb to an estimated $15,521,000 in
fiscal 1971.
So we are roughly doubling the amount of Federal assistance for local law
enforcement this year. And we should also remember that the Law Enforcement
Assistance Act requires the states and local communities to match Federal grants
with additional funds of their own. The result is that new resources for crime-
fighting are increased by large increments but the basic responsibility for
protecting the public safety remains where it belongs -- at the local level.
The Law Enforcement Assistance Act offers a real opportunity for improvement
in local crime-fighting -- for new ideas, new techniques and new equipment. In the
final analysis, the success of the program will depend upon how well local police,
the courts, the correction agencies and state and local governments respond to
the opportunity.
There are still other opportunities to step up and improve the war against
crime. There currently is a drive in progress to move 13 major anti-crime bills
sponsored by the Administration through the Congress of the United States.
I personally will not give up the effort to enact this legislation until
these bills have passed the House of Representatives, have received the final
approval of both the House and Senate, and have been sent to the President for his
signature.
The Congress in this session must act affirmatively on bills which would
give the Department of Justice new legislative tools to go after organized crime
and a better legislative vehicle for dealing with the problem of narcotics. These
are matters of the highest priority for this Congress.
I am a co-sponsor of these bills but it is not from pride of sponsorship that
I speak. I firmly believe that this legislation is a matter of the greatest urgency.
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Crime control is a complex affair. As you very well know, the job does not
end with an arrest. What is involved is a highly complicated process, including
prosecution, trial, sentencing and, hopefully, rehabilitation in prison.
We are making progress in one legislative area. We are all aware that the
crime crisis has caused a virtual breakdown of criminal justice in America.
Nationwide our courts are clogged with criminal cases, and the backlog has grown
to mountainous proportions.
I am pleased to point out that on June 2 Congress cleared legislation which
provided for 58 new permanent Federal judgeships and three temporary judgeships.
This should help eliminate some of the large backlog of pending Federal cases.
Nationally the backlog of criminal cases more than doubled in the last
decade although the number of cases filed remained relatively stable. The main
reason was the new emphasis on rights of defendants, flowing from U.S. Supreme Court
decisions. This lengthened the time needed to handle the average case.
I personally agree with Justice Hugo L. Black that the Supreme Court in the
last several years has hobbled law enforcement by insisting upon justice-defeating
procedures which unduly favor accused criminals.
We must attach far more importance to convicting the lawbreaker than to
assisting his efforts to "beat the rap." Fortunately the tenor of Supreme Court
decisions in recent months has changed for the better with the changed makeup of
the court.
We have also made great progress in our efforts to move against organized
crime. You may recall that the President recommended the creation of 20 Strike
Forces of prosecutors and investigators to wage all-out war against organized
crime. Thirteen of those Strike Forces now are on duty at strategic locations
throughout the country and the other seven will be established soon.
There has been a marked upturn in indictments and prosecutions of key
syndicate figures. There have been dramatic developments in the war against
dope -- such as the recent nationwide raid in which 139 persons in 10 different
cities were arrested. That was the largest Federal narcotics raid in the history
of this country. It is estimated that the ring involved handled 30 per cent of
all heroin sales in this country and 75 to 80 per cent of all cocaine sales.
This progress is being made despite the failure of Congress to date to
pass such vital anti-crime legislation as the Organized Crime Control Act. We could
make greater gains if such legislation were enacted, and I personally believe that
the pressure of public opinion will bring about the passage of the Organized Crime
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Control Act before Congress adjourns this year.
In large measure, organized crime flourishes because its members can too
seldom be brought to justice. The Organized Crime Control Act will help in bringing
the chieftains of organized crime to book.
I expect Congress to approve measures which will:
Give the Justice Department authority to enter any community and shut down
illegal gambling operations.
Prevent racketeers from using illegally obtained money to invest in or take
over legitimate businesses operating interstate and allow the use of such antitrust
weapons as forfeiture of financial interest in case of violations.
Make it a Federal crime for local law enforcement officials to protect
gambling operations.
Elicit more testimony from arrested racketeers by providing for immunity from
prosecution -- thereby making the Fifth Amendment plea against self-incrimination
inapplicable --- where the information would do more to hurt organized crime than
would the prosecution of the individual.
Allow for the use in evidence of written statements from persons who might
otherwise refuse to give information for fear of their lives.
Provide for stiffer-than-usual sentences -- up to 30 years in prison -- in
cases of continuing felonious activity, a proposal aimed at leaders of organized
crime and other professional lawbreakers.
So help is on the way. We at the national level are determined to do
everything in our power to supplement the efforts of local law enforcement agencies
in the war against crime.
But no matter how many laws we in the Congress pass, the basic job of
keeping the peace rests with you men.
You will make our communities safe and guard our liberty against the
invasions of anarchy and the invasions of central power.
As you discharge your duties, there are some among our citizenry who will
call you names.
I feel sure you will not lose your cool when you consider that what the
letters P, I, and C really stand for are Pride, Integrity and Guts.
You are professionals now -- far more SO than in the old days when the role
of the law enforcement officer was simply to preserve the peace, prevent crime and
apprehend the criminal. Now, in addition to the demands of his inherent role as
a law enforcement officer, the policeman finds himself involved in the delicate
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fields of human relations and community relations. I personally feel that we in
Grand Rapids can rely on your judgment and discretion.
I think I speak for the entire community when I say you have our active
support and our respect. We know that you will serve faithfully in your duty
posts. We know that you will give the people of this community the kind of service
of which you and they can be proud. I, for one, am grateful -- and on behalf of
all of the people of Grand Rapids, I thank you. Congratulations!
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