All language subtitles for Dragnet S03E03 Community Relations (DR-10).DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en

This is the city.

Los Angeles, California.

The outdoors play a
big part in our lives.

It's boating weather
almost 12 months a year

and people have
really taken to the sport.

The ocean provides
the playground.

In 1962, the city began
building the Marina Del Rey.

It already has
berths for 6000 boats.

There are five yacht clubs,

seven restaurants,
two motels, and a hotel.

If you want to
live by your boat,

there are numerous apartment complexes
on the water with convenient shopping.

There are also facilities
for the day sailor.

On weekends, you can see hundreds
of power and sailboats of all sizes

moving through
the man-made inlet.

It's a good healthy
way to enjoy life.

Some people like
living dangerously.

When they hurt
others, I go to work.

I carry a badge.

The story you're
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

It was Monday, July 15th.

It was fair in Los Angeles.

We were working out of Community
Relations Division as recruiting officers.

The boss is Captain
Larry Walton.

My partner is Bill Gannon.

My name is Friday.

It was 8:30 p.m.

We were attending a meeting of the
East Los Angeles Graduates Union.

Its purpose, to help high school
graduates find the right career.

Our purpose, to try and
interest them in law enforcement.

How'd things go with
the East LA graduates?

Well, they're interested but the idea of
a police career meets a lot of resistance.

Especially among
the ethnic groups.

It's understandable, to some were
asking them to join the establishment.

The other side.

Well intellectually, most of them
know it's really their side as well,

instinctively, that's
another matter.

A lot of them are worried too about what
their friends would say if they joined.

I don't need to tell you how badly the
department wants and needs recruits,

- particularly from the ethnic
groups.
- No, sir.

We want more Mexican Americans,
more Orientals, and more Negros.

Well, we're going
to talk to them again.

Talk may not be enough.
Find a way to reach them.

Well, I think we have. Officer
Dave Evans, he is working patrol.

They know him and they like him.

He is sort of a hero to them, all-star
athlete in the city school system,

played for the Pittsburgh
Stealers for a while.

I like to ask him to
come with us next time.

- Good idea. Go ahead.
- Yes sir.

But if that doesn't work,
find something that will.

Those fellows are more
important than they know.

How is that?

If they join,
others will follow.

4:05 p.m.

Bill and I had spent the afternoon
talking to some servicemen

who were due for discharge
about joining the department.

We drove back to
the police building.

We wanted to talk to Officer Dave
Evans as he came off day watch.

We met him in the locker room in
the basement of the police building.

Sarge. Bill.

- Dave.
- How is it going?

Routine, you know, family dispute,
traffic defense, a couple of hot rollers.

We heard you had
a 211 yesterday?

Liquor store. They
parked the car in the alley.

Panicked when the delivery
truck blocked their exit.

They tried to make it on foot.

That's when we got there.

They ran right into us.

You forgot to mention
they were armed.

Yeah but they didn't use them.

We heard you knew one of them.

Grew up in the
same neighborhood.

Never thought I
have to bust him.

Shame he didn't do
what you did years ago.

- What's that?
- Join the department.

He wasn't interested.

He might have been if
somebody had talked to him.

You're both recruiting
detail, aren't you?

You're after something.

Well, you've heard of the
East LA Graduates Union.

Yeah, they meet in high
school or after, don't they?

It's a vocational
guidance kind of thing.

They bring in people
to talk about job

opportunities to kids who
have already graduated.

That's right. We've
been meeting with them.

I heard that. I know
some of those kids.

Uh-huh. That's why we'd like you to
give us a hand by speaking to them.

Me? Oh, come on, Sarge.
I'm no public speaker.

You won't have to make a speech. Joe
does that. You'll just answer questions.

Level with them.
Tell it like it is.

Some of them have just been
bumming around since they left school,

you know, working at
odd jobs, getting nowhere.

We tried talking to them but
we can't seem to reach them.

They'd listen to you, Dave.

Look, fellows. I'm a patrolman.
I like to help but you know.

You could make a big difference.

We'd appreciate it if you would.

I don't know.

More important, they might
appreciate it in the long run.

How is that?

Everyone you help straighten out now,
you might not have to handcuff later on.

Monday, July 22nd, 8:40 p.m.

We attended the weekly meeting
of the East LA Graduates Union.

As arranged, Bill and I were there to
tell them more about a police career.

The word had gotten around that this time
Officer Dave Evans would be there with us.

A would-be recruit has to pass
five exams to join the department.

Written exam, oral, medical, a personality
evaluation test, and an agility test.

Now, if he passes all
five, he then enters the

police academy where
he alternates periods of

actual field work with sessions
dealing with such things as patrol tactics,

law, self-defense, the
use of firearms, and so on.

Then after he has been a policeman for
one year, he can specialize if he wants to.

Now, there are more
than 250 job opportunities

in the department,
and if you qualify,

you can apply for
any one of them.

Forgery, homicide,
motorcycle patrol, narcotics,

scientific investigation,
and a great many others.

Now, one more thing,
why you should join.

I won't talk about the contribution
you'd make to society as a policeman.

I won't mention the
satisfaction you'd receive

helping your fellow
men of being a vital,

important, active member
of your community.

Maybe those things are
important to you. Maybe they're not.

That's for you to decide.

But if you are
interested in a job of the

future that's exciting
and far from routine,

a career that offers
unlimited opportunities

as well as guaranteed security,

I sincerely suggest you
consider joining the department.

Now, since you men probably
have a lot of questions,

I want to ask Officer Dave
Evans here to answer them for you.

Dave?

This is something new for me.

Most of the time I ask the questions
like "where is your driver's license"

or "what are you doing
with those cigarette papers."

All right, who's got
the first question?

Me, man. I got a
real good one for you.

How much bread
do you Irvines make?

What kind of money?

Well, as soon as a
recruit enters the police

academy, he starts at
715 a month and gets

an automatic raise
for the next three years,

and then he is eligible to
take the promotional exam.

Hey, man. Some of those big factories
pay more than that to start, don't they?

That's right. Sometimes they do.

And that's one of the reasons
we have trouble getting recruits.

But if all you're interested in is
money, we don't want you anyway.

We're offering you a
career, not just a job.

What about those amendments
that were just passed by the people?

You know, Proposition A?

I thought some of that money they go to
the police department meant higher wages.

Not the money
from Proposition A.

That goes for better facilities, better
equipment, better working conditions.

But under the other propositions the public
passed at the same time, yes, it's true.

We get paid for overtime.

Hey, man. Just like
they do in those factories.

Will you tell us again some of
the qualifications we need to join?

Well, you've got to be
a high school graduate

and you've got to pass
the department's exams.

I got a question.
Are the exams tough?

They aren't easy, but
all of you here are to

be able to pass them,
and if you were in the

upper quarter of your class in school,
you won't have any trouble at all.

I got a real serious
question for you this time.

All right.

If I joined the fuzz, does
that mean I dodge the draft?

No, it does not.

You got to serve your
time like anybody else.

You don't get any special
privileges being a policeman.

Man, you ain't got nothing
going for you at all, have you?

I've got a question. Could you tell
us why you became a policeman?

Why? Well, there are
a couple of reasons.

First of all, I always liked
the idea, even as a kid.

Later on, when I started thinking
what I was going to do with my life,

well, this might sound a little phony, but
I wanted to do something for my country.

I remember when we
studied civics in school.

They told us the police department
was a local arm of the government,

and that's just what it is.

The laws may be made in the state
capital or decisions handed down by the

Supreme Court, but
as a police officer who

sees to it that those
laws have real meaning,

some real use. I figured
that was just about

as important a job
as a man could have.

And there was another reason
I became a policeman too.

I wanted to do something
for my own people.

And I figured if I was a part of
the law, I could do that as well.

And I'll tell you
something else.

Some of our people talk
about white man's law.

There is no such thing.

Not when black men like
you and me wear this uniform.

It's everybody's law.

What about all those jobs
Sergeant Friday mentioned?

Which one would
be best for a Negro?

Any one of them.

If you got the qualifications, you
can apply for whichever one you want.

There's no segregation or
favoritism in the department.

Does that mean I have as much chance
of getting promoted as a white man?

That's just what it means.

Promotions are based
on results of exams,

and your chances of getting good
grades are as good as anybody's.

Hey, I got a question
for you, Officer.

If all that equal opportunity jazz is
true, how come you're only a patrolman

and he's a sergeant?

If you're as smart as you act, you would
know it's because he has been a policeman

a lot longer than I have.

You expect us to
believe that, do you?

I do, yes, because it's true.

That's what you say, Uncle Tom.

That's exactly what I
say and that's what I

expect you to believe.
And I'll tell you why.

Because even now,
when we have only around

250 Negros in the
department, 24 are sergeants

and 5 are lieutenants,
if you don't think that's

enough, you can drag
off that chair and do

something about it right now.

Yeah and what is that?

Join the department.

Tuesday, July 23rd, 8:30 a.m.

I checked in with
Lieutenant Ed Henry

and reported the progress of
the previous evening's meeting.

Then he was able to reach them?

- He was.
- Good.

There were a few rough moments
but he handled them just right.

What happened, hecklers?

That's right, one in particular. He
did everything he could to throw Evans.

- His name is Alec Harper.
- What about the others?

They know he was leveling with
them. They like him and they trust him.

- Then they'll follow his lead.
- Good chance.

What's your next move?

Well, I thought I'd give them the rest of
the week to digest what they've learned.

All right, but don't
let them lose interest.

You don't have to worry
about that. We'll hear from him.

That's fine.

I'm afraid we'll hear
from Alec Harper too.

Friday, July 26th, 8:30 a.m.

Bill and I checked in for work.

We were scheduled
to discuss our recruiting

program with the Junior
Chamber of Commerce that

morning so I cleaned up
some paperwork before we left.

- Joe, when were you born?
- April 2nd, why?

- Astrology.
- Astrology?

You know, the zodiac, horoscopes,
mystic powers, and celestial bodies.

Boy, there's some
real good stuff in here.

Sure, there must be.

Ah, April 2nd, Aries,
sign of the old ram.

Mars favors Uranus.
Jupiter moves in on Leo.

Boy, look at that.

- Joe, you know what?
- No, what?

This is your lucky day.

Listen to this.

Wise investments would pay
large dividends. Think of that.

Decisions made today will
invariably prove wise. Think of that.

Influence at its zenith.

Do you realize what
that means, Joe?

- What what means?
- Influence at its zenith.

Come on, come on,
we got to work to do.

See, you influenced me already.

Three days had passed
since our second meeting

with the East LA
Graduates Union.

It was time for a follow-up.

We decided to check back with one of
the young men who was at the last meeting.

He worked at a
neighborhood car wash.

Hi, Sarge. What's the matter?

Doesn't the LAPD
polish its own cars?

You do a nice job. I'll have
to bring my own car in here.

Better make it soon.
This is just a fill-in job.

I'm looking for
something better.

Well, the other night, you seemed
interested in joining the department.

Yeah, some of us were
interested for a while.

What do you mean for a while?

We thought about it
a lot. We figured if it

was okay for Dave
Evans, it was okay for us.

- Yeah.
- We figured he'd level with us.

- No come on, straight stuff, you
know.
- That's right.

So we're all set to
take your exams.

- That was before.
- Before what?

Before we found out Dave was
just trying to sell us a bill of goods.

- How is that?
- Oh, come on, you know.

- Tell us.
- Come on. The word's out.

What word?

Dave Evans, he
turned in his resignation.

2 p.m.

We checked with
the watch commander.

He told us Dave Evans
was on night watch.

That meant he was off duty now.

We drove over to
his home to see him.

Dave will be out in
a minute, Sergeant.

He is just getting
ready for work.

I'm sorry it's so dark
in here, but it seemed

silly to have the lights
on in the daytime.

Yeah, we understand.

Those boys must have thrown
a thousand rocks at the windows.

The insurance company was supposed
to send somebody over to repair them.

- He still hasn't come.
- Could you identify any of the
boys?

Not really. That's what the
sergeant who investigated asked me.

They looked like some who live in
the neighborhood, but I couldn't be sure.

I stayed away from the windows.

There was glass everywhere.

- Do you know why they did it?
- Oh, we know all right.

- We knew the last time too.
- What's that?

Dave's a policeman.

Hello, Sarge, Bill.

Excuse me. I've got
to pack Dave's lunch.

Dave, are you quitting the job?

That's right. The kids who
did that were black like me.

- Is that why you're resigning?
- One of the reasons.

You could move to a
different neighborhood.

We've been living here to
save so we could do just that,

but even buying our own
home isn't the answer.

Maybe they wouldn't
throw stones on another

neighborhood, but there
will still be somebody on

the block who would think of
me as a traitor to my own kind.

Well, you should be used
to people like that by now.

There are some things
you never get used to.

The first hundred times somebody has
threatened to get even with me, I worried.

After that, I took
it for granted.

- All right, that's you, not me.
- It's all of us.

Joe, Bill, look.

I know why you're here and
I appreciate it, but no sale.

You said the broken windows were
just part of the reason. What's the rest?

All right, I'll tell you.

I'm tired of all the
insults I have to take.

Oh, not the ordinary kind that
every man in the department gets.

That's something I can
handle like you two do.

I mean the other
kind you don't get.

The Uncle Tom, the
whitey's boy remarks?

That's it but still only part.

How do you mean?

I get if from the
whites as well.

- More than we do.
- Maybe. Maybe not.

But don't you see, I
get it from both sides.

Dave, no one ever
told you it was easy.

I don't expect it to be
easy, but a man should

be able to feel his
work means something.

Yours does.

No, a policeman should
be able to feel he is

an asset to his
community, black or white.

But as it is, neither has as much respect
for me as they would if I were white.

Oh, come on, Dave.

Give me an example, just one,
when I've really been an asset.

The whites resent me
for being a policeman.

My own people
treat me like a traitor.

What about last week
when you and McKenzie

stopped two motorists from
fighting after a traffic accident?

What about it?

The Negro motorist wouldn't even
listen to McKenzie but he talked to you.

Sure. He figured I'd side with him,
and he cursed me when I wouldn't.

Did you hear that too?

And what about the other day, that
family dispute, the Negro husband and wife?

As soon as she saw me, she wouldn't
even speak to me, only to McKenzie.

She figured I'd side
with her husband.

Well, that's human nature.

Right, that's what eating at me.

Dave, there were a dozen Negros at
that Graduates Union meeting last Monday.

Only one of them gave you a rough time.
The rest were ready to follow your advice.

They're not now.

I'm sorry about that,
but it can't be helped.

Well, I guess we can't
change your mind.

- Sure you can. It's easy.
- How is that?

Give me one example,
just one. That's all I want.

What's that?

Tell me when I was really appreciated,
either by your people or by my own.

4:05 p.m.

I checked in with the
lieutenant to report our progress

and to make a suggestion
about Dave Evans.

How's the stand, Joe?

A lot of those boys
were going to follow

Dave's lead. Now, I'm
afraid we've lost them.

It looks like
we've lost him too.

Yes, sir. That's right.

Anyone of the fellows
change their minds again?

Not without making
Dave change his.

Then that's what
we've got to do.

Bill and I talked to
him for almost an hour.

I know, but we
need those recruits.

Not only that. We need Evans.

He completes his fourth year
in the department next month.

That means he could
take the sergeant's exams.

That's right.

He'd make a good
sergeant, wouldn't he?

He couldn't have forgotten.

He hasn't. I saw him when
he came in for night watch.

He says he's not interested.

He is depressed, discouraged.

We all get fed up once in a
while, but he is overreacting.

It's been building up
for some time now.

Those broken
windows just triggered it.

I figured it's something he's got to work
out for himself and he needs time for that.

- A leave of absence might help.
- It's no good, Joe.

Well, the captain
would go for it.

He would but Evans won't. I
already suggested it to him.

He'll have to think of
something else and soon.

Yes, sir.

Before those
fellows lose interest.

You know, Joe it says in here that
stars exert an influence over our lives

that science has completely
ignored for centuries.

Does it say why it has
ignored it for so long?

Oh, I haven't gotten to
that yet. Have a candy bar.

- No, thanks.
- Go ahead. You look hungry.

- I'm not.
- Yes, you are.

But Joe, I've got
to pull on the lever.

Well, sir, what do you
think of astrology now?

Your horoscope is right
all the way, wasn't it?

- Was it?
- Well, sure.

It said wise investments
will play large dividends.

5:20 p.m.

Bill and I were scheduled
to talk about recruiting

to a citizens civic
committee that evening.

Since the meeting wasn't until 9,
we decided to have an early dinner.

We headed for a restaurant a
block away from the meeting place.

Any unit in the vicinity of
the 800 Block Grand Avenue.

Citizen reports an officer
in need of assistance.

- We're two blocks away.
- All right, lean on it.

All right. Just break it up!

Break it up!

All right. That's
enough of that.

- Dave Evans.
- Wait! Just hold it.

Do you think we ought
to give him a hand?

We're right here if he needs us.

- Now, both of you just cool it.
- Officer, my name is Rogers. I
own this store.

I tried to stop them.
They wouldn't listen to me.

Yes, sir. Cover the front
door, would you please, sir?

And keep everybody out.

Now, all of you in here just
keep it down! Keep it quiet!

You men, you can't stay here.
You've got to go back outside.

- We're police officers, sir.
- Good, good.

I'm the one who
phoned for more help.

One policeman isn't enough.

You've got to help him. Those kids could
smash my showcases, break my merchandise.

They could start a riot and
I've got this store next door.

I had my last place looted. You
can't let that happen to this one.

What are you standing
here for? You ought to

be over there, helping
that other officer.

And you ought to call
more men, a dozen at least.

This place is a powder gig.

A dozen men could light the
fuse. Even three of us might.

There are times when
one man is enough.

Especially when
it's the right man.

- I'm just asking.
- Hey! Lay off, fuzz.

Yeah, butt out. This is
none of your business.

I'm making it my business and you people
were told to quiet down. Now, get quiet.

- Whitey had it coming to him?
- What did I tell you?

Oh, okay, man. Okay.

- Now, what started the fight?
- He started it, man.

I was minding my business when he
started acting like I was dirt, just dirt.

- I didn't do a thing to him.
- He told me to get out of his
way.

Well, this is a public place.

I got as much right
and that's what I told

him and that's when
he started slugging me.

Alec Harper, that's a
lie, an out and out lie.

You started it like you
always do and I'm sick

and tired of it, sick
and tired, do you hear?

Miss, if you saw what
happened, suppose you tell me.

Oh, you bet I will.

I needed some flowers
for my sister's birthday

so I came in here to
buy some with him,

and then I saw him.

We're in some of the
same classes in school.

His girlfriend is one of my best
girlfriends so I said hi. Just hi.

And right away, he got so
crazy mad, he jumped on him.

You shut up! You shut up now!

Alec Harper, I'm through with
you! I'm through for good this time!

It seems to me what we've got here is a
fellow who doesn't know how to get along

with the girls.

What's the matter, Alec?

Didn't your father ever tell you you
have to use honey to hang on to one?

My dad taught me something
I've always remembered.

You don't yell at a
woman till you get married,

then you got to yell to
make yourself heard.

What do you think I should
do with these two, let them go?

You do that and he's got a lot
of fast talking to do in a hurry.

All right, son, you can go.

All right, you can go
too. But take this with you.

Next time, you won't
only lose your girl.

You'll have me to worry about
too. You understand that, son?

- Yes, sir. I do.
- Good. Go on. Get after her. And
good luck.

All right, everybody,
there's nothing more to see.

Everybody move along unless
you have business in the store.

Joe, Bill, what are
you doing here?

Watching a pretty
good policeman at work.

- That's right.
- Officer, I want your badge
number.

- What's your badge number?
- It's right here, 4868.

I got to thank you,
really thank you.

A year ago, my store was
smashed by a fight like that.

Only then, there was no
policeman like you around.

I can't tell you how much I
appreciate what you just did.

I really appreciate it.

The way you stopped that fight,
the way you handled that crowd.

I'm going to write your captain. I'm
going to tell him how thankful we are.

No, sir. That's
really not necessary.

It's necessary to us.

Now, that badge number
was 4868, wasn't it?

Yes, that's what it was.

Dave, remember those examples
you wanted a couple of hours ago?

Yeah.

You got a couple of good
ones right here, Evans.

I guess I have.

Say, we've got to have
your captain's name.

We're going to address
this letter to him personally.

And everybody in the
neighborhood is going to sign it.

- That's really not necessary.
- Oh, yes, it is.

It is to us.

Come right along.

- Pretty smart, aren't you?
- How is that?

- Letting Dave handle that fight
alone, a wise decision, Joe.
- If you say so.

You'll have to admit now there's a
lot more to astrology than you thought.

What do you mean?

- Well, your horoscope, remember
what it said?
- Huh?

Decisions made today
will invariably prove wise.

The story you have
just seen is true.

The names were changed
to protect the innocent.

90% of the applicants
passed the examinations

and went on to
the police academy.

They are now serving as officers of
the Los Angeles Police Department.