Behind the Badge: The St. Paul Police Department's Fight Against Crime in the early 1940s

[Music] can escape this powerful network of law enforcement agencies [Music] from the four divisions of police investigators we present first the crime division in which particularly well-trained men are assigned to specialize in uncovering crimes of Larsen auto theft check for or theft as it is commonly called generally thefts are committed by amateurs and are difficult to trace unless the owners refrain from destroying possible evidence and act promptly to call police professional thieves eventually are caught frequently trapped because of their very consistent operations as this motion picture acquaint you with the various police departments remember that each department is ready to help you at all [Music] times as the chart will show crimes of Larsen are lower in St Paul than is usual in the average large American city but a better record certainly is possible such as the sharp reduction in automobile thefts accomplished because of public indignation against car thieves the passing of laws which make Interstate transportation of stolen cars a federal offense and the introduction of two-way radio and fast Statewide police communication have cut in half the number of stolen cars St Paul's experience Compares very favorably with the average of other cities [Music] more than $6,700 of stolen merchandise was located in pawn shops in 1940 and returned to the rightful owners supervision of pawn shops is an important function of the group of detectives especially trained for the work when one human being takes the life of another either intentionally or through inexcusable carelessness in such crimes as murder or manslaughter while driving under the influence of liquor or dope the homicide Squad undertakes the solution of the crime and the arrest of the criminals happily such occurrences are rare in St Paul and in recent years practically all killings of this nature have been solved and The Killers [Music] punished burglary is forceful entrance with intent to Rob or damage property most crimes of this nature can be prevented if Property Owners will provide good lot strong doors and locked Windows families who leave their homes unoccupied during absences from the city should notify police who will inspect the home daily in 1940 of 840 unoccupied homes where police were notified in advance not one was [Music] burglarized police women always interview girls or women who have been molested by sex perverts the services of police women are very helpful after occasions of this nature and their careful investigations help in locating and arresting the offenders don't hesitate to call police when Mashers force their attentions prompt action May prevent tragic [Music] consequences we present next the morals division of police investigators who battle against commercial bites the foundation of organized crime commercial by cooperate gambling happy go-lucky citizens otherwise well respected with a card stacked against them in games of chance sacrifice a large percentage of their money which then goes to line the pockets of gangsters and to finance their rackets the moral Squad enforces the laws against gambling supervises places licensed to sell liquor and constantly raids disorderly houses which appear from time to time these places are uprooted as fast as they become known whether they are just small Dives or elaborate establishments with national agencies the constant drive against dope Peddlers and narcotic addicts is maintained also a special division of the morals Squad uncovers the sale of offensive magazines and prosecutes the Distributors of Sensational Publications [Music] [Music] can escape this powerful network of law enforcement agencies [Music] from the four divisions of police investigators we present first the crime division in which particularly well-trained men are assigned to specialize in uncovering crimes of larsy auto theft checks for theft as it is commonly called generally thefts are committed by amateurs and are difficult to trace unless the owners refrain from destroying possible evidence and act promptly to call police professional thieves eventually are caught frequently trapped because of their very consistent operations as this motion picture acquaints you with the various police departments remember that each department is ready to help you at all [Music] times as the chart will show crimes of Larsen are lower in St Paul than is usual in the average large American city but a better record certainly is possible such as the sharp reduction in automobile thefts accomplished because of public indignation against car thieves the passing of laws which make Interstate transportation of stolen cars a federal offense and the introduction of two-way radio and fast Statewide police communication have cut in half the number of stolen cars St Paul's experience Compares very favorably with the average of other cities [Music] more than $6,700 of stolen merchandise was located in pawn shops in 1940 and returned to the rightful owners supervision of pawn shops is an important function of the group of detectives especially trained for the work when one human being takes the life of another either intentionally or through inexcusable carelessness in such crimes as murder or manslaughter while driving under the influence of liquor or dope the homicide Squad undertakes the solution of the crime and the arrest of the criminals happily such occurrences are rare in St Paul and in recent years practically all killings of this nature have been solved and The Killers punished [Music] burglary is forceful entrance with intent to Rob or damage property most crimes of this nature can be prevented if Property Owners will provide good locks strong doors and locked Windows families who leave their homes unoccupied during absences from the city should notify police who will inspect the home daily in 1940 of 840 unoccupied homes where police were notified in advance not one was [Music] burglarized police women always interview girls or women who have been molested by sex perverts the services of police women are very helpful after occasions of this nature and their careful investigations help in locating and arresting the offenders don't hesitate to call police when Mashers force their attentions prompt action May prevent tragic [Music] consequences we present next the morals division of police investigators who battle against commercial bites the foundation of organized crime in commercial by cooperating gambling happy go-lucky citizens otherwise well respected with a card stacked against them in games of chance sacrifice a large percentage of their money which then goes to line the pockets of gangsters and to finance their rackets the moral Squad enforces the laws against gambling supervises places licensed to sell liquor and constantly raids disorderly houses which appear from time to time these places are uprooted as fast as they become known whether they are just small Di or elaborate establishments with national agencies the constant drive against dope Peddlers and narcotic addicts is maintained also a special division of the morals Squad uncovers the sale of offensive magazines and prosecutes the Distributors of Sensational Publications [Music]