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There is toQ..ay a -most encouraging .. indication of increased publ ic in terest in crlme probŅems . Thi s interest lS,being manifested by civic groups, -'institutes of goyhrnment, the press, and organizations of ' different types, as • well as more frequent activņty on the part.oŇ individual citizens . This is a , reflection of a condition precedent 'to the fuňlreʼnliŊation of the American ,.' people of their responsibiU ty in connectibJ? 'wltlf' such problems . We, the law enforcement officials and agencies of the,natŋon, qan and should exert every effort to stimulate the interest now being shown and to direct this interest ' : toward the cotisummati6n of the desired obj ective, namely, a recognition of the fact that the law enfotceŌent offigers are thō nati9n 's peace-time soldiers always on actŎve duty aŏq tpat tŐe citiőens,of the.countrY are allies of these officers .
Certainly, no citizhn, in time of war or national danger, would be worthy of his trust if he·concealed information of value to our armed forces, or if he concealed information concerning the activities or whereabouts of enemy spies. Obviously, the same responsioility exists in the warfare against crime and criminal s. The criminal is a public enemy., CQmfort, solace , and aid are' given this enemy when a·citizen does'not promptly report the commission of a crime, or the' whereabouts and activity 'of violator or a fugitive . The responsibil ity of course goes even further, and'extends to the duty of serving as a witness or as a juror, without fear or favor.
There are positive indications that applause for the criminal, who has been bu ilt up by fiction into ·the character of a hero, has begun to sub side . However, mere applause for the peace officer , who is fighting for the publ ic, is not sufficient . Active, immediate cooperation, is the obj ective ' and we, as peace officers, may well be said to have a duty to lead and in struct the public to a more complete recognition of this responsibility. • ,.,.. iI This theme , it is pleasing to note, has been adopted by a few officials and . by use of the opportunities of the press and the radio, by addressing civic groups and organizations, and by other means , 'we can do much in this direction . I 0" . Some suggestions have been made that greater publ ic interest and cooperation may be achieved by inviting citizens to visit police departments, precincts, sheriffs ' offices, and headquarters and branches of other law enforcement agencies , as well as idenńification bureaus , crime laboratories and other divisions and bureaus of these departments and offices. Thi s has been found in some instances to promote a closer personal acquaintance between the public and police officials, which stimulates confidence and cooperation . There are obviously many methods Which may be employed successfully to this end includ ing a portrayal of the accomplishments of your department or office as a whole as well as accomplishments by individual units such as the Auto Theft Detail; the Women 's Bureau ; or the Identification Division. It may be well to point out in this connection that at the Century of Progress exhibit of this Bureau in the United States Government Building at the Chicago Exposition there is a map showing the location of all con tributors' of fingerprints to the Identification Division of the United States Bureau of Investigation . No small amount of enthusiasm is displayed by the visitors to :I:.his exhibit when they find that your department or office is in ' cluded in this great cooperative endeavor. '1'hey also show a keen int.erest in the types of fingerprint patterns and the 'uses which you are able to make of the criminal records furnisheq by this .Bureau . As soon as the exhibit , opened several hundrel). visitors each day requested that a print be talŒen of one of their fingers for demonstration purposes . Tne total number of such • '. . " !"eqtë<:?sts bas j,ncrease,d five fold sinœe thD opening days of the Exposition. This is an example of the interes1;. that will be taken when the public has an opportunŔ ty to learn of the progress being made i.n iaw ehforcement work .
It has been pointed out that this Bureau might Qe of service by in viting suggestions as to effective methods used by peace officers in enlist ing increased interest and cooperation on the part of the public. You are therefore invited to submit any suggestions or ideas you have found to be of value to this end and these ideas will be subsequently summarized and published in the "}fugitives Wanted by Police" bulletin for your information and use when they are found to be .adaptable to your work .
With the increased interest and active cooperation of the citizens and the already existing cooperation be'l:.ween .law enforcement agencies , much good certainly may be expected as a result.
Director . 1 ------.
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