DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-09-01 Daily Iowan Article: ""McCarney Says, 'We'll Enforce the Laws'""

Transcribe
Translate

University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-09-01 Daily Iowan Article: ""McCarney Says, 'We'll Enforce the Laws'""

9/1/70 DI

McCarney Says "We'll Enforce the Laws"

By AMY CHAPMAN 
DI Managing Editor 

MECHANICSVILLE - Iowa City Police Chief Patrick McCarney told an audience at St. Mary's Parish Hall here Sunday night that Iowa City police " will enforce the laws" this fall and called on "the people who have been "paying the freight" - parents - to take a stand against destructive dissidents.
McCarney, addressing himself primarily to parents who will be sending their children to the University of Iowa, said university students "should know we do have laws and rules and regulations, and they will have to abide by them.
"We're not real sure what may happen this fall," he said. " We think this fall will be an exciting year. 
"We're hoping we have no problems. There's no reason why we should have problems," he said. 
On the subject of campus demonstrations and disruption, McCarney said. " Everybody has the right to disagree and dissent . . .  one have the right to destroy. 
" But when they start damaging property," he said, " we will be there."
McCarney emphasized that his department and other law enforcement agencies have a primary responsibility to merchants and "many other good, solid, taxpaying citizens."

'PUSHED TO THE LIMIT'
During the university disturbances last may, which he said " I would have to class as a riot," police officers " were pushed to the limit of our expectations.
" We have reached our limit." he said
" But we're not threatening anybody. 
" If it happens on campus. It's their (the university's) problem. If it gets out of hand, they'll call us and we'll be there," McCarney said.
If Iowa City Police are called in to help control disturbances, he said, they will request assistance from "the sheriff's office, the Highway Patrol: and we will call Gov. (Robert) Ray and ask him to call in the National Guard."
He said Ray would be asked to place the National Guard on active duty, as "there's no use sitting in a bivouac on the edge of town when there's trouble down in town."
McCarney said, " We have people right now at the University of Iowa who would burn all the buildings down in one night."

PROFESSIONAL CONSPIRACY
He quoted a Washington, D.C., federal district judge as saying, "There is a professional conspiracy at work in this country of ours, trying to overthrow our government . . . "
"This is exactly where we're at now," McCarney said. 
"We're not trying to frighten anybody," he reiterated. " The University of Iowa is a wonderful institution."
He emphasized that " We're not opposed to students. We love all of them. But when they openly and deliberately defy the law they will be arrested."
When students are arrested, he said, they may "come peacefully" or they may resist, in which case " we may have to use chemical Mace, riot sticks or tear gas."
Speaking of last May's disturbances, during which he was in Washington D.C., McCarney said, " I don't know whether we should be in Cambodia or not, but I do think President Nixon's advisers in Washington know a hell of a lot more about the situation than some of our young punks that want to sit over there on campus and suck on their marijuana and other drugs . . . "
He said he felt it unjust that students were not upset when policemen were killed "doing their duty," but a national furor was caused when "the four Kent State students who were in the process of inciting a riot" were killed. 

CRITICIZES UNIVERSITY
He criticized university officials for their handling of several campus situations, saying, " I just don't understand the University of Iowa.
" They're within the city limits, but they're kind of an island. We'd like them to take care of their own problems," he said. 
" As far as we're concerned, the created the problem."
He said he thinks university officials do not allow Campus Security officers to enforce the law strictly enough. Campus Security, he said is "under the thumb of the president of the university."
And he asked, " Why hasn't our (university) officials advised the 227 people who were arrested last May that they can no longer enroll? They should be expelled."
He also criticized the university for allowing "undesirable individuals" to remain " on the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets 24 hours a day."

'UNDUE PUBLICITY'
McCarney expressed dissatisfaction with Iowa City new media for recent "undue publicity" about the purchase of police equipment. 
" We do not have a stockpile of firearms." he said.
He explained that the police department had ordered four sawed-off shotguns so that each squad car would be equipped with one in case of emergency, and small tear gas cannisters of a type used in small areas rather than for crowd control.
He said three walkie-talkie radios at a cost of $860 per unit were purchased because they a different frequency from the present radios used, which can be monitored by the news media. 
"It's none of their (the news media's) damn business what goes on at the police station," he said.
On the subject of drugs, McCarney said, " We do have a drug problem, and each year it gets progressively worse. 
Iowa City has 39 officers, he said, " but we cannot do the job by ourselves. We have to rely on informants - we have to rely on the good guys - other students at the University of Iowa."

Saving...

9/1/70 DI McCarney Says "We'll Enforce the Laws" By AMY CHAPMAN DI Managing Editor MECHANICSVILLE - Iowa City Police Chief Patrick McCarney told an audience at St. Mary's Parish Hall here Sunday night that Iowa City police " will enforce the laws" this fall and called on "the people who have been "paying the freight" - parents - to take a stand against destructive dissidents. McCarney, addressing himself primarily to parents who will be sending their children to the University of Iowa, said university students "should know we do have laws and rules and regulations, and they will have to abide by them. "We're not real sure what may happen this fall," he said. " We think this fall will be an exciting year. "We're hoping we have no problems. There's no reason why we should have problems," he said. On the subject of campus demonstrations and disruption, McCarney said. " Everybody has the right to disagree and dissent . . . one have the right to destroy. " But when they start damaging property," he said, " we will be there." McCarney emphasized that his department and other law enforcement agencies have a primary responsibility to merchants and "many other good, solid, taxpaying citizens." 'PUSHED TO THE LIMIT' During the university disturbances last may, which he said " I would have to class as a riot," police officers " were pushed to the limit of our expectations. " We have reached our limit." he said " But we're not threatening anybody. " If it happens on campus. It's their (the university's) problem. If it gets out of hand, they'll call us and we'll be there," McCarney said. If Iowa City Police are called in to help control disturbances, he said, they will request assistance from "the sheriff's office, the Highway Patrol: and we will call Gov. (Robert) Ray and ask him to call in the National Guard." He said Ray would be asked to place the National Guard on active duty, as "there's no use sitting in a bivouac on the edge of town when there's trouble down in town." McCarney said, " We have people right now at the University of Iowa who would burn all the buildings down in one night." PROFESSIONAL CONSPIRACY He quoted a Washington, D.C., federal district judge as saying, "There is a professional conspiracy at work in this country of ours, trying to overthrow our government . . . " "This is exactly where we're at now," McCarney said. "We're not trying to frighten anybody," he reiterated. " The University of Iowa is a wonderful institution." He emphasized that " We're not opposed to students. We love all of them. But when they openly and deliberately defy the law they will be arrested." When students are arrested, he said, they may "come peacefully" or they may resist, in which case " we may have to use chemical Mace, riot sticks or tear gas." Speaking of last May's disturbances, during which he was in Washington D.C., McCarney said, " I don't know whether we should be in Cambodia or not, but I do think President Nixon's advisers in Washington know a hell of a lot more about the situation than some of our young punks that want to sit over there on campus and suck on their marijuana and other drugs . . . " He said he felt it unjust that students were not upset when policemen were killed "doing their duty," but a national furor was caused when "the four Kent State students who were in the process of inciting a riot" were killed. CRITICIZES UNIVERSITY He criticized university officials for their handling of several campus situations, saying, " I just don't understand the University of Iowa. " They're within the city limits, but they're kind of an island. We'd like them to take care of their own problems," he said. " As far as we're concerned, the created the problem." He said he thinks university officials do not allow Campus Security officers to enforce the law strictly enough. Campus Security, he said is "under the thumb of the president of the university." And he asked, " Why hasn't our (university) officials advised the 227 people who were arrested last May that they can no longer enroll? They should be expelled." He also criticized the university for allowing "undesirable individuals" to remain " on the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets 24 hours a day." 'UNDUE PUBLICITY' McCarney expressed dissatisfaction with Iowa City new media for recent "undue publicity" about the purchase of police equipment. " We do not have a stockpile of firearms." he said. He explained that the police department had ordered four sawed-off shotguns so that each squad car would be equipped with one in case of emergency, and small tear gas cannisters of a type used in small areas rather than for crowd control. He said three walkie-talkie radios at a cost of $860 per unit were purchased because they a different frequency from the present radios used, which can be monitored by the news media. "It's none of their (the news media's) damn business what goes on at the police station," he said. On the subject of drugs, McCarney said, " We do have a drug problem, and each year it gets progressively worse. Iowa City has 39 officers, he said, " but we cannot do the job by ourselves. We have to rely on informants - we have to rely on the good guys - other students at the University of Iowa."