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‘Muke Punishment Fit Crime’

Click to see original imageThere were 106 of them all law enforcement officers slain in the 12 months ending in April while protecting life and property in the United States. The same number, interestingly, lost their lives in the previous year. As always in these cases, the fatality toll amounts to a sad, lamentable statistic. Rep. Barry M. Goldwater Jr., R-Calif., called upon to read the “roll call of heroes” to fellow congressmen, said; “I have appeared before you during Police Memorial Week the past 12 gears, but the task of onoring slain police officers becomes no easier.” On the contrary. Goldwater said, “it becomes increasingly difficult to stand before you to read this sad list, this tragic enumeration of murdered fathers, sons. brothers, husbands. mothers, wives, daughters and sisters – needless victims of the mentally deranged in society.” This year’s fatality list includes the first female U. S. Secret Service agent killed in the country – Julie Cross of Los Angeles, Past National Cha lain Virgil D. Penn Jr. or the Fraternal Order of Police. who compiled the roll, notes in a memo read by Goldwater that 94 of the 106 were slain by firearms. 68 of those by handguns In some cases “the guns were the officers’ own revolvers wrested from them while struggling with suspects.” Commenting on the “frightful and depressing” offenses committed against law officers, Penn asserted; “The most disheartening thing of all is the disposition of judicial charges that are meted out to the murderers of our law enforcement officers and other innocent victims. “I-low many felons have tzeen given the just sentences they deserve? When was the last murderer of a policeman out to death for his evil act? It is time to show the criminal world that their fiendish crimes will no longer be tolerated. We must make the punishment fit the crime.” Disrespect for the law is bad enough. But when violators murder or assault enforcement officers the crime is tragically compounded. The ceremony in Conglress serves to point up the azard involved in enforcement work plus the need for vigilance and continual updating of training and safety procedures in dealing with offenders. It also suggests a need for continual public support and for demonstrating in the courts that punishment indeed will fit the severity of the crime.