Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 15, 1941.
Police Told Ways To Win Public Help
Law enforcement officers of Lake and Porter counties attending the regional training course in traffic enforcement being held at City Hall each Friday afternoon from Jan. 20 to March 28, Friday were told the ins and outs of public speaking as a vital force in selling themselves and their products to the public.
The speaker was Professor J. L. Lingo. Director, Public Safety Institute, Purdue university.
According to Prof. Lingo law enforcement officers have an important product to sellーnamely, public service. Knowing some of the basic rules of public speaking will help every officers to better express his ideas not only to large groups but in individual conversations as well, the speaker said.
Seek Public Support
A knowledge of public speaking and expression of ideas should prove valuable in raising the level of the police profession and in gaining public support for police work both, generally and individually, Prof. Lingo pointed out.
“Public speaking is an expression of ideas, and the manner in which you put over your sales idea has a great bearing on what people think of your employerーthe municipal corporation,” Prof. Lingo told the police.
Prof. Lingo explained why speeches are effective and how stage fright could be overcome. He stressed the proper and improper methods of preparing speeches; how long should be taken in preparing a speech; how a speech should be delivered; what should be included in a speech, and the importance of a good beginning and good ending in a speech.
Discusses Technique
Prof. Lingo also discussed accident investigation and the gathering of evidence at the scene to build up a case. He showed the reactions of car drivers, the braking and stopping of cars and how to tell the speed of cars after accidents by means of skid marks.
Paul T. Beverforden, sergeant, Indiana state police, of Indianapolis, assisted in the conduct of the meeting. He announced that next Friday George H. Harris, of the Public Safety Division, National Safety Council, will be in charge of the lesson dealing with the basic laws of evidence, court procedure, interviewing witnesses, statements, confessions and law of arrest.
