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Student protests, May-December 1971
1971-06-15 Iowa City Press-Citizen Reader's Comment Page 1
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Readers Comment- -About Chief's, Sheriff's Attacks To the Editor: As the wife of a former city manager, I am reluctant to become involved in community affairs. I have strong feelings about some of our country's basic principles, however, and the latest intemperate remarks by two of our law enforcement officials compel me to write this letter. It is a fundamental principle of this country that the military and para-military agencies be firmly under the control of the civilian government. We recently returned from East Pakistan where we witnessed first hand the results when a military branch takes over in a country. They rule by terror and brute force. It is noteworthy that the military in East Pakistan made their first vicious attacks on the university students and professors, and the free newspapers. I'm not trying to compare Johnson County and East Pakistan. It does no harm, though, to remind ourselves that, by law and tradition, our governmental units are under the control of civilians. We should expect our law enforcement officials to work under our civilian government and to extend their protection to everyone - rich and poor, black and white, old and young, short-haired and long-haired - equally, fairly, and quietly. The bombast, invective, and "viewing with alarm" should come from the politicians. That's a part of their style, and it rather livens the scene. Our law enforcement officers should be taciturn men and women carrying out their duties coolly, calmly, and without editorial comment. When law enforcement officials move into the role of politician and judge, citizens become alarmed. I don't understand why the other law enforcement agencies were criticized so strongly by Messrs. Schneider and McCarney. The Highway Patrol was ordered in by governor, carried out their assignment with a minimum of force and maximum of tact, and left - most impressive! I don't know much about the campus police, but they are quiet, unobtrusive, and have always seemed to perform their duties well. The meter maids are the very model of good law enforcement officers and deserve praise instead of remarks that tend to denigrate them. Perhaps Messrs. Schneider and McCarney have been under strain, and in this situation one sometimes speaks rashly and intemperately. This is understandable - but one must get used to the heat in the kitchen. It is difficult for me to believe that here in Iowa City there is a large body of miscreants whose activities warrant all this emphasis on riot equipment, shotguns, more patrol cars, etc. If there are a few hard cases in town, quiet, professional police work will keep them under better surveillance than loud, strong words and all this show of force. I find it shocking that here in Iowa City reporters have been arrested while carrying out their assignments. Surely this handful of bright-eyed, inquisitive news-people do not constitute a threat to our peace. The implication of this sort of action is that public officials are involved in shenanigans that they want to keep from the public. The real truth probably is that public officials are caught up in a difficult situation and do not want the press to catch them bumbling and looking foolish. It is the lot of public officials to carry out their duties in the full glare of public view. The public is tolerant of bumbling on the part of its servants, but it will not long tolerate secrecy. We should encourage more newspaper coverage of events, and more public discussion of the issues - not less. Since Iowa City is a university town we receive a full share of publicity; even internationally Iowa City has a reputation for rather harsh police practices. Governing is difficult, requiring extended patience and understanding. Because of the example Iowa City sets, a special dedicated effort is needed here. Olive S. Leikvold 435 South Summit Street
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Readers Comment- -About Chief's, Sheriff's Attacks To the Editor: As the wife of a former city manager, I am reluctant to become involved in community affairs. I have strong feelings about some of our country's basic principles, however, and the latest intemperate remarks by two of our law enforcement officials compel me to write this letter. It is a fundamental principle of this country that the military and para-military agencies be firmly under the control of the civilian government. We recently returned from East Pakistan where we witnessed first hand the results when a military branch takes over in a country. They rule by terror and brute force. It is noteworthy that the military in East Pakistan made their first vicious attacks on the university students and professors, and the free newspapers. I'm not trying to compare Johnson County and East Pakistan. It does no harm, though, to remind ourselves that, by law and tradition, our governmental units are under the control of civilians. We should expect our law enforcement officials to work under our civilian government and to extend their protection to everyone - rich and poor, black and white, old and young, short-haired and long-haired - equally, fairly, and quietly. The bombast, invective, and "viewing with alarm" should come from the politicians. That's a part of their style, and it rather livens the scene. Our law enforcement officers should be taciturn men and women carrying out their duties coolly, calmly, and without editorial comment. When law enforcement officials move into the role of politician and judge, citizens become alarmed. I don't understand why the other law enforcement agencies were criticized so strongly by Messrs. Schneider and McCarney. The Highway Patrol was ordered in by governor, carried out their assignment with a minimum of force and maximum of tact, and left - most impressive! I don't know much about the campus police, but they are quiet, unobtrusive, and have always seemed to perform their duties well. The meter maids are the very model of good law enforcement officers and deserve praise instead of remarks that tend to denigrate them. Perhaps Messrs. Schneider and McCarney have been under strain, and in this situation one sometimes speaks rashly and intemperately. This is understandable - but one must get used to the heat in the kitchen. It is difficult for me to believe that here in Iowa City there is a large body of miscreants whose activities warrant all this emphasis on riot equipment, shotguns, more patrol cars, etc. If there are a few hard cases in town, quiet, professional police work will keep them under better surveillance than loud, strong words and all this show of force. I find it shocking that here in Iowa City reporters have been arrested while carrying out their assignments. Surely this handful of bright-eyed, inquisitive news-people do not constitute a threat to our peace. The implication of this sort of action is that public officials are involved in shenanigans that they want to keep from the public. The real truth probably is that public officials are caught up in a difficult situation and do not want the press to catch them bumbling and looking foolish. It is the lot of public officials to carry out their duties in the full glare of public view. The public is tolerant of bumbling on the part of its servants, but it will not long tolerate secrecy. We should encourage more newspaper coverage of events, and more public discussion of the issues - not less. Since Iowa City is a university town we receive a full share of publicity; even internationally Iowa City has a reputation for rather harsh police practices. Governing is difficult, requiring extended patience and understanding. Because of the example Iowa City sets, a special dedicated effort is needed here. Olive S. Leikvold 435 South Summit Street
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