Re: Report of the National Advisory (Kerner Report 1967)
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 12:29 am
APPENDIX I: SPECIAL INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION: LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND ON CONFERENCES FOR POLICE AND MAYORS; LETTERS TO FCC AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
August 10, 1967
Dear Mr. President:
On the basis of the testimony to date, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders recommends that the following actions be taken immediately:
(1) Increase substantially the recruitment of Negroes into the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. As of December 31, 1966, the Army National Guard totaled 404,996 officers and enlisted personnel in units in the United States. Of this total, only 4,638 were Negro -- 1.15%. As of the same date, the Air National Guard totaled 80,822 officers and airmen. Of this total, only 475 were Negro -- .6%.
The Commission believes strongly that this deficiency must be corrected as soon as possible. To do so will require the combined efforts of the Department of Defense, State officials, and the Negro community.
(2) Improve and expand riot control training of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. We have been informed that steps are under way to do this. We wish to underscore the importance of moving forward as rapidly as possible. We recommend that special emphas1s be given to such training during the next several weeks.
('3) Review by Federal and State officials of the qualifications and performance of all officers in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The Department of Defense should also review federal recognition standards and procedures to insure that they are adequate to preclude the appointment and promotion of substandard officers.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Governor, Illinois
John V. Lindsay
Mayor, New York City
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
October 7, 1967
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. President:
The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, on the basis of testimony thus far received, recommends that you direct the Department of Justice to conduct a series of intensive training conferences this winter for governmental and police officials. The series would focus on effective measures for the maintenance of law and order and on programs to improve police-community relations.
We emphasize that knowledge and programs in these areas are not substitutes for solutions to the problems of racial discrimination, alienation and poverty, as reflected in such areas as employment, education and housing. But there is need for cities, as soon as possible, to share the knowledge that has been gained in methods for maintenance of law and order.
Some seventy-five witnesses, including mayors, chiefs of police, other state and local officials, representatives of federal departments and agencies, and residents of disorder areas have now testified before the Commission. Many others will be heard.
The testimony to date convinces the Commission that a substantial body of knowledge now exists in the fields of prevention and control of civil disorders that could profitably be communicated through training conferences under the auspices of the Department of Justice. Of course, we are aware that a number of valuable meetings and programs for local law enforcement officials are under way. But these meetings we believe can be s1gniflcantlysupplemented by a conference of broader scope and longer duration such as that we here propose.
The precise format of this conference and the cities to be involved would, of course, be determined by the Justice Department. The conference could be conducted here in Washington or on a regional basis, perhaps in cooperation with colleges or universities. A short program might be appropriate for key state and municipal officials, a slightly longer one for police chiefs, and a more extensive one for other public safety and government personnel. Subjects to be covered presumably would include advance planning; control techniques; communications systems; decision making during disorders; joint operations with neighboring police, state police, the National Guard and Army; community relations and effective means of dealing with citizens' grievances.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
February 7, 1968
Honorable Ramsey Clark
Attorney General
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
More effective means of communication among police officers in a disorder area and between police in the area and officers at control headquarters are essential. Difficulties in communication impair day-to-day enforcement efforts, but become particularly acute during a disorder when there is urgent need for departments to act as coordinated units.
One important way to alleviate this problem is to provide miniaturized two-way radio equipment for all officers on patrol. Accordingly, the Commission's Report will include the following paragraph strongly endorsing the recommendation of the President's Crime Commission:
Miniaturized communications equipment for officers on foot is critically needed for command and control in civil disorders. This Commission, therefore, endorses the recommendations made by the Crime Commission that the Federal Government assume the leadership in initiating and funding portable radio development programs for the police.
The Commission believes that the Department of Justice should move forward now to develop such a program. We urge immediate action and we would appreciate learning of steps being taken in this direction.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
February 7, 1968
Honorable Rosel H. Hyde
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders has examined the critical control problems that our cities have encountered in the recent disorders. Among the most perplexing has been to provide sufficient radio frequencies to insure communication among control officers on a daily basis and especially during a disorder. Police officers in the disorder area have frequently found it difficult or impossible to reach other officers or other agencies of local or state government. state and local police are sometimes unable to use the same frequency.
The following paragraph, which will be included in the Commission's report, sets forth the Commission's strong recommendation on the basis of its study:
We believe that the critical communications and control problems arising from the present shortage of frequencies available to police departments require immediate attention. Accordingly, we recommend that the Federal Communications Commission make sufficient frequencies available to police and related public safety services to meet the demonstrated need for riot control and other emergency use.
We understand that this matter is under consideration by the Commission now. We urge immediate action and would appreciate learning of steps being taken in this direction.
Sincerely.
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
August 10, 1967
Dear Mr. President:
On the basis of the testimony to date, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders recommends that the following actions be taken immediately:
(1) Increase substantially the recruitment of Negroes into the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. As of December 31, 1966, the Army National Guard totaled 404,996 officers and enlisted personnel in units in the United States. Of this total, only 4,638 were Negro -- 1.15%. As of the same date, the Air National Guard totaled 80,822 officers and airmen. Of this total, only 475 were Negro -- .6%.
The Commission believes strongly that this deficiency must be corrected as soon as possible. To do so will require the combined efforts of the Department of Defense, State officials, and the Negro community.
(2) Improve and expand riot control training of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. We have been informed that steps are under way to do this. We wish to underscore the importance of moving forward as rapidly as possible. We recommend that special emphas1s be given to such training during the next several weeks.
('3) Review by Federal and State officials of the qualifications and performance of all officers in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The Department of Defense should also review federal recognition standards and procedures to insure that they are adequate to preclude the appointment and promotion of substandard officers.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Governor, Illinois
John V. Lindsay
Mayor, New York City
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
October 7, 1967
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. President:
The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, on the basis of testimony thus far received, recommends that you direct the Department of Justice to conduct a series of intensive training conferences this winter for governmental and police officials. The series would focus on effective measures for the maintenance of law and order and on programs to improve police-community relations.
We emphasize that knowledge and programs in these areas are not substitutes for solutions to the problems of racial discrimination, alienation and poverty, as reflected in such areas as employment, education and housing. But there is need for cities, as soon as possible, to share the knowledge that has been gained in methods for maintenance of law and order.
Some seventy-five witnesses, including mayors, chiefs of police, other state and local officials, representatives of federal departments and agencies, and residents of disorder areas have now testified before the Commission. Many others will be heard.
The testimony to date convinces the Commission that a substantial body of knowledge now exists in the fields of prevention and control of civil disorders that could profitably be communicated through training conferences under the auspices of the Department of Justice. Of course, we are aware that a number of valuable meetings and programs for local law enforcement officials are under way. But these meetings we believe can be s1gniflcantlysupplemented by a conference of broader scope and longer duration such as that we here propose.
The precise format of this conference and the cities to be involved would, of course, be determined by the Justice Department. The conference could be conducted here in Washington or on a regional basis, perhaps in cooperation with colleges or universities. A short program might be appropriate for key state and municipal officials, a slightly longer one for police chiefs, and a more extensive one for other public safety and government personnel. Subjects to be covered presumably would include advance planning; control techniques; communications systems; decision making during disorders; joint operations with neighboring police, state police, the National Guard and Army; community relations and effective means of dealing with citizens' grievances.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
February 7, 1968
Honorable Ramsey Clark
Attorney General
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
More effective means of communication among police officers in a disorder area and between police in the area and officers at control headquarters are essential. Difficulties in communication impair day-to-day enforcement efforts, but become particularly acute during a disorder when there is urgent need for departments to act as coordinated units.
One important way to alleviate this problem is to provide miniaturized two-way radio equipment for all officers on patrol. Accordingly, the Commission's Report will include the following paragraph strongly endorsing the recommendation of the President's Crime Commission:
Miniaturized communications equipment for officers on foot is critically needed for command and control in civil disorders. This Commission, therefore, endorses the recommendations made by the Crime Commission that the Federal Government assume the leadership in initiating and funding portable radio development programs for the police.
The Commission believes that the Department of Justice should move forward now to develop such a program. We urge immediate action and we would appreciate learning of steps being taken in this direction.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman
***
THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS
1016 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
February 7, 1968
Honorable Rosel H. Hyde
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders has examined the critical control problems that our cities have encountered in the recent disorders. Among the most perplexing has been to provide sufficient radio frequencies to insure communication among control officers on a daily basis and especially during a disorder. Police officers in the disorder area have frequently found it difficult or impossible to reach other officers or other agencies of local or state government. state and local police are sometimes unable to use the same frequency.
The following paragraph, which will be included in the Commission's report, sets forth the Commission's strong recommendation on the basis of its study:
We believe that the critical communications and control problems arising from the present shortage of frequencies available to police departments require immediate attention. Accordingly, we recommend that the Federal Communications Commission make sufficient frequencies available to police and related public safety services to meet the demonstrated need for riot control and other emergency use.
We understand that this matter is under consideration by the Commission now. We urge immediate action and would appreciate learning of steps being taken in this direction.
Sincerely.
/s/ Otto Kerner
Chairman
/s/ John V. Lindsay
Vice Chairman