DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations"" Page 2

Transcribe
Translate

Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations"" Page 2

p.2 (of 2) 

Tuesday, November 16, 1971- Iowa City Press-Citizen - 3A

Single Question' Raised About How To Improve Relations - 

anel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations

R. Smiley, accompanied by Police Chief Patrick J. McCarney, whose plans to attend were not definitely made known until Monday. 

Two of McCarney's men participated on the panel.. They were Patrick L. Harney and Charles E. Arnold. 

Altogether, six lawmen participated, representing "line officers" from UI Campus Security, the Iowa High Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and the Police Department. Also, seven students appeared on the panel. 

The meeting itself drew criticism from more than one quarter. Students from the panel and the audience questioned whether the meeting actually was a "PR thing" having more to do with public relations for local law enforcement than with student police relations. 
Sueppel said that if "both sides haven't learned something from this it's a failure, and not just learn something, but put it into practice"

Also, lack of audience attendance by students was noted Richard Bartel, a student panelist, criticized the Daily Iowan for failing to inform students about the meeting. 

Susan Ross, another student panelist, questioned whether the Sheriff's Department adequately had publicized the meeting and said there had been "absolutely zero publicity" on campus. 

A highlight of the meeting was an exchange between panelists and Dean Blake, a Daily Iowan editor, sitting towards the rear of the audience. In what mildly may be characterised as a loud voice, he persisted in demanding to know what kind of behavior a taxpayer could expect from lawmen whose salaries he pays. 
Responses to the question sputtered along for several minutes, until the moderator called on Sheriff's Deputy William Hargrave to tell what kind of behavior Blake, the questioner could expect. 

" I think that can be answered in several ways,. First od all, what are you going to be doing?" asked Hargrave, drawing a burst of laughter from panelists and the audience. 

Tear gassing of a UI dormitory area this spring drew a lengthy discussion from panelists. Some challenged the need for such a tactic, said it unnecessarily angered and polarized students, and asked that guidelines be drawn up for its use in the future. 

As a city policeman, Arnold was called upon to relate his view of the incident. He agreed with other panelists that Highway Patrol officers called in during disturbances had not resorted to gas and generally "did a good job."
However, the Highway Patrol had the manpower to cope with large groups of students, he said while he and other local lawmen were seriously outnumbered when trying to control the situation and protect themselves. 
"They did it with men. We did it with gas," he said. 

For some of the problems, the UI administration came in for criticism by panelists Blaine Goff of the patrol, said that lawmen were the target of rocks and other missiles and there was " a mammoth slingshot built on a dorm to shoot at law enforcement."
"This is brutal to us... and I'm quite certain that the University of Iowa had knowledge of that slingshot being up there prior to it being used," he said. 

Numerous other issues were raised, many centering on questions about when police should become an active visible force, making arrests, during a disturbance; how they should work to "channel" demonstrations, and how they should prepare for a demonstration..
The lawmen on the panel tended to agree that so far briefings and special training sessions have not been part of their preparations to date. 
Various solutions were submitted for the overall problem besides special training and briefings. 
"Personally, I hope we never have another demonstration in Iowa City, peaceful or otherwise," said Sheriff's Deputy Paul L. Welsh, after describing the apprehension with which lawmen face large groups of demonstrators. 
His colleague, Hargrave, suggested another tack. He proposed that a parties on all sides acknowledge that they "made some poor decisions... and get on to something meaningful."

Saving...

p.2 (of 2) Tuesday, November 16, 1971- Iowa City Press-Citizen - 3A Single Question' Raised About How To Improve Relations - anel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations R. Smiley, accompanied by Police Chief Patrick J. McCarney, whose plans to attend were not definitely made known until Monday. Two of McCarney's men participated on the panel.. They were Patrick L. Harney and Charles E. Arnold. Altogether, six lawmen participated, representing "line officers" from UI Campus Security, the Iowa High Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and the Police Department. Also, seven students appeared on the panel. The meeting itself drew criticism from more than one quarter. Students from the panel and the audience questioned whether the meeting actually was a "PR thing" having more to do with public relations for local law enforcement than with student police relations. Sueppel said that if "both sides haven't learned something from this it's a failure, and not just learn something, but put it into practice" Also, lack of audience attendance by students was noted Richard Bartel, a student panelist, criticized the Daily Iowan for failing to inform students about the meeting. Susan Ross, another student panelist, questioned whether the Sheriff's Department adequately had publicized the meeting and said there had been "absolutely zero publicity" on campus. A highlight of the meeting was an exchange between panelists and Dean Blake, a Daily Iowan editor, sitting towards the rear of the audience. In what mildly may be characterised as a loud voice, he persisted in demanding to know what kind of behavior a taxpayer could expect from lawmen whose salaries he pays. Responses to the question sputtered along for several minutes, until the moderator called on Sheriff's Deputy William Hargrave to tell what kind of behavior Blake, the questioner could expect. " I think that can be answered in several ways,. First od all, what are you going to be doing?" asked Hargrave, drawing a burst of laughter from panelists and the audience. Tear gassing of a UI dormitory area this spring drew a lengthy discussion from panelists. Some challenged the need for such a tactic, said it unnecessarily angered and polarized students, and asked that guidelines be drawn up for its use in the future. As a city policeman, Arnold was called upon to relate his view of the incident. He agreed with other panelists that Highway Patrol officers called in during disturbances had not resorted to gas and generally "did a good job." However, the Highway Patrol had the manpower to cope with large groups of students, he said while he and other local lawmen were seriously outnumbered when trying to control the situation and protect themselves. "They did it with men. We did it with gas," he said. For some of the problems, the UI administration came in for criticism by panelists Blaine Goff of the patrol, said that lawmen were the target of rocks and other missiles and there was " a mammoth slingshot built on a dorm to shoot at law enforcement." "This is brutal to us... and I'm quite certain that the University of Iowa had knowledge of that slingshot being up there prior to it being used," he said. Numerous other issues were raised, many centering on questions about when police should become an active visible force, making arrests, during a disturbance; how they should work to "channel" demonstrations, and how they should prepare for a demonstration.. The lawmen on the panel tended to agree that so far briefings and special training sessions have not been part of their preparations to date. Various solutions were submitted for the overall problem besides special training and briefings. "Personally, I hope we never have another demonstration in Iowa City, peaceful or otherwise," said Sheriff's Deputy Paul L. Welsh, after describing the apprehension with which lawmen face large groups of demonstrators. His colleague, Hargrave, suggested another tack. He proposed that a parties on all sides acknowledge that they "made some poor decisions... and get on to something meaningful."