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ATLANTA hae
COMMERCE BUILDING
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COUNCIL ac
July 7, 1967
Mr. Charles B. Fisher
739 West Peachtree Street, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Dear Mr. Fisher:
Mayor Allen referred to me your letter and the article from the American
Legion magazine regarding private citizen policing activities. I am sorry
I am so long replying, but it came while I was out of the city.
The idea of having citizen “observers" has been tried a number of times
including here in Atlanta some years back. Although I agree with the advan-
tages you point out that the system has, there are a number of disadvantages
as well. The most obvious problem is that the citizens have no legal standing
and their observations can be used only as advisory information. Each time
this is tried a great deal of criticism arises from the public who er
interpret this as “vigilante" action.
Weighing all of the pros and cons I find that I personally end up coming back
to the conclusion that policing should be left to the police and that additional
police should be added if we need to increase enforcement, rather than using
citizens who are not able to follow through on the violation they observe and
whose "semi'official" status could be a source of public irritation.
Sincerely,
Rdmund W. Hughes
Managing Director
EWH/sp
ce: Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.
GEORGE GOODWIN, PRESIDENT
BILL C. WAINWRIGHT, MRS, LUCILLE S. HUFFMAN, VICE PRESIDENTS
c. A. MC NAIR, TREASURER
EDMUND W. HUGHES, MANAGING DIRECTOR