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Editorial
November 18, 1936
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
Editorial argues for police training schools using the mishandled investigation of Ried Russell's death in Manhattan Beach, Calif., initially ruled suicide but reopened due to evidence of body movement. Supports state-proposed training in Imperial Valley to improve law enforcement competence.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A DEMONSTRATION OF THE NEED
FOR POLICE TRAINING SCHOOLS
Investigators in Manhattan Beach, Calif., have become convinced that Ried Russell, friend of Novelist Gouverneur Morris, could not have died in the garden swing where his body was found last Sept. 25. A simple deduction having to do with the position of the body and the slant of the bullet wound led to the discovery-almost two months after the tragedy. The case had been closed once, listed on official books as a suicide. Now it is reopened. Perhaps it was a suicide, perhaps not. That is not the point.
The point is that a trained investigator should have noticed on Sept. 25 that the body of young Russell must have been moved after his death, because he could not logically have died in the place where the body was found. We are too far away to judge whether it was ignorance, pressure on officials, incompetent investigation or laziness which led to a too-hurried closing of the case. The same thing happens often enough, and for various reasons. This once, there happened to be sufficient cause to reopen the case.
The entire matter, minor enough in its own right, is a very good demonstration of the need in law enforcement circles of adequately trained men. Such training schools as that proposed to be established here by the state at the request of the Imperial Valley Peace Officers association, if carried through on a large scale, would do much to overcome the danger of such incidents.
Peace officers should be as highly trained as soldiers, or men in private professions. There should be no slips.
FOR POLICE TRAINING SCHOOLS
Investigators in Manhattan Beach, Calif., have become convinced that Ried Russell, friend of Novelist Gouverneur Morris, could not have died in the garden swing where his body was found last Sept. 25. A simple deduction having to do with the position of the body and the slant of the bullet wound led to the discovery-almost two months after the tragedy. The case had been closed once, listed on official books as a suicide. Now it is reopened. Perhaps it was a suicide, perhaps not. That is not the point.
The point is that a trained investigator should have noticed on Sept. 25 that the body of young Russell must have been moved after his death, because he could not logically have died in the place where the body was found. We are too far away to judge whether it was ignorance, pressure on officials, incompetent investigation or laziness which led to a too-hurried closing of the case. The same thing happens often enough, and for various reasons. This once, there happened to be sufficient cause to reopen the case.
The entire matter, minor enough in its own right, is a very good demonstration of the need in law enforcement circles of adequately trained men. Such training schools as that proposed to be established here by the state at the request of the Imperial Valley Peace Officers association, if carried through on a large scale, would do much to overcome the danger of such incidents.
Peace officers should be as highly trained as soldiers, or men in private professions. There should be no slips.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Or Punishment
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Police Training
Law Enforcement
Investigation Errors
Suicide Ruling
Peace Officers
Training Schools
What entities or persons were involved?
Ried Russell
Gouverneur Morris
Investigators In Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Imperial Valley Peace Officers Association
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Need For Police Training Schools
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Police Training Reforms
Key Figures
Ried Russell
Gouverneur Morris
Investigators In Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Imperial Valley Peace Officers Association
Key Arguments
Body Position And Bullet Wound Indicate It Was Moved After Death
Case Closed Too Quickly As Suicide Due To Possible Incompetence
Trained Investigators Would Notice Such Discrepancies Immediately
State Proposed Training School In Imperial Valley Would Improve Law Enforcement
Peace Officers Need Training Comparable To Soldiers Or Professionals