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Show CRIME COST FOR TAXPAYERS IS HEAVY By J. Edgar Hoover Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation Taxpayers are having to dig a little deeper each year to meet the rising cost of crime in our nation. Since this heavy financial burden is directly related to the amount of lawlessness occurring, the report of some 2,259,100 serious crimes committed in 1963 offers no encouragement en-couragement for immediate relief from criminal violence or the cost of fighting it. This total represents a 10 per cent increase over the 1962 figure. In the past five years crime has increased five times faster than our population popula-tion growth. It is not surprising, therefore, that crime costs are becoming a big issue in every community. Not only are more citizens being victimized with greater frequency, they are also being charged more for their misfortune. Presently, a conservative estimate of the annual crime bill is 27 billion dollars. Experience has shown that in all fields of competitive competi-tive encounters the best strategy for winning is a good, bold offense. A good offense. A good offensive for effective ef-fective law enforcement encompasses many vital components. com-ponents. Law enforcement agencies cannot wage a successful suc-cessful campaign against the criminal forces when inadequately inade-quately equipped. It take sufficient funds, outstanding personnel, and proper training programs and facilities to uphold law and order. These basic requirements are so closely interwoven in the makeup of professional law enforcement that the lack of one jeopardizes the overall achievements of any agency. Further, to single out one as more important than the others is subject to question. However, career police executives over the years have sought to attract top caliber personnel. Without exception, excep-tion, the main obstacle has been the meager salary which they could offer. Consequently, many outstanding prospects pros-pects do not bother to apply, and a good percentage of those who enter the profession are forced to leave for jobs with better pay in order to support their families. Let us take a look at some of the pay scales for the average officer who daily risks his life protecting and defending de-fending his fellow man. The entrance salary for patrolmen patrol-men in some of our cities having more than 500,000 papulation pap-ulation is barely $90 per week. In a number of smaller communities with less than 25,000 people, the entrance pay drops to approximately $50 per week. The average monthly earnings of full-time police employees in local governments are but $483. This compares with $508 for firemen, $512 for public utility workers, $555 for school teachers, and $560 for public transit employees. These figures lend credence to the contention that our society demands more for less from the law enforecement officer than from any other public servant. Certainly, there are many factors to weigh in arriving arriv-ing at equitable pay scales for law enforcement. It is not expected that a blanket wage level for all areas could be agreed on, or justified. It would appear, however, that the marked difference in the lowest and highest figures fig-ures for cities of similar size is a gap which should be greatly reduced upward from the bottom. Virtually every hamlet and metropolis is directly and deeply involved in the crime struggle. As the intensity in-tensity of the battle heightens, the crime toll rises and the cost multiplies. None can dispute that the time for reversal is at hand. I say to all Americans, let us grab the offensive. Let us take the positive approach by investing more of this cost in the improvement of law enforcement, thereby seeking dividends in crime reduction. Let us begin by raising the pay of officers to a fair and just level to attract at-tract outstanding personnel. And finally, let us supply the forces of law and order with the strength, the facilities, facili-ties, and most important the support needed to discharge dis-charge their obligations. |