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Inside Laborn I C C C I Attorney GeneralKl LOLL: Cites War on CrimeBy VICTOR RIESELWhat has been done to fight the complex of mohswhich has oeen called the “second government''?( an such a muscled, heavily armed empire reportedly worth $ 150 billion- repeat $150 billion—reallybe fought 1 Is it being fought? How can it survive despite the assault by what should be the mast powerful law enforcement «gency in the free world'* I put these same queries to U. S. Attorney GeneralRamsey Clark Here is his reply, written exclusively for this column:By RAMSEY CLARKAttorney General of the United StatesW ASHIN( 11 ON—federally coordinated lawf enforce merit is engaged in the most Intensive and successful attack on organized crime ever undertaken on a multi-cit\ basis \ s manpower, resources and techniques will further strengthen the attack.The federal response to organized crime today is comprehensive nd effective Its top priority in the'I* partment f ! , itice is reflected by assignment of more attnri \s • in ever befr re to the Organized Crime andRai ket- *-r g S • n, h- .ded In veteran crime-fighter Henry Pe ers#-Ind, s ,n cases handled hv the section have increased steadily—from 17 in 1960. to 262 in 1961, to a record 66S last year.Of 1*0 kr. wn members of la Cosa Nostra indicted or convicted during the past dozen years, 55 were indicted or convicted last vear.a#The drive includes a new technique, the Strike Force concept Strike Forcfts, teams of attorneys and investigators from key federal agencies, have been dispatched to three centers of organized crime. Additional StrikeForces are being formed.Information Ih DistributedA constant flow ol criminal intelligence is supplied to local law-enforcement by federal agencies. In 1967. more than 750 raids wer“ conducted and .1,700 arre.sts made as a rerjlt of intelligence disseminated bv theFBITo further intensify the federal drive, the Department of Justice is seeking Congressional authority to enlarge the Organized Crime and Rac keteering Section staff from about 100 to more than 160.Although law-enforcement is primarily a local responsibility, a federal response to organized crime vs clearly needed because of its interstate aspects and its proven ability to neutralize local law enforcementIn a society where nearly everv form of human activity is organized, would it be realistic to believe criminal activity would not be*? Crime has proven far too profitable in our society to expect an absence of organization in its execution.(■ambling is crime's greatest source of income andlean sharking ranks second Fxtortion, blackmail and shakedowns are frequen* practices Importation and wholesaling of narcotics engage many groupsIncreased sophistication and affluence have led organized crime into many legitimate businesses, laboractivities and government .services and contractsGenerally, organized crime supplies goods or services wanted b\ a large number of people It cannot operate extensively without protection Significant gambling, shylockmg. narcotics traffic and other continuing criminal acts cannot long escape the notice of law-enforcement.Corruption Is Worst EvilPerhaps the greatest harm tc come from organized crime is corruption »f officials Where some police are corrupt, law-eiiorcement generally is likely to be bad Where government officials are bribed, the morale climate of the w tole community vs hkelv to be affected.Despite the federal successes of today and tomorrow, Americans shoJd r* i l ok to Washington fur an ultimate solution to the problem of organized crime.Local police outnumber federal police nearly 18 to 1. They patrol .he s'reets and public areas, and see and know the activities of the people.It is state and local laws that are usually violatedby racketeering activities and their enforcement is the duty of local police.The key step must ,x» professionalization of local law-enforcement: paying salaries that will attract the best among us, raising standards, training officers to mee1 the varieties of criminal standards, training officers to meet the varietie* of criminal conduct, providing research and development, developing organization and leadership to bring excellence to local law-enforcement throughout the nation.
Newspaper Details
Port Arthur News
Port Arthur, Texas, US
Fri, Jul 12, 1968
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Madison H.
NA, 25 May 2023
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