The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 119

Solomon helped restore public confidence in the police only in certain circumstances: In self-defense or to prevent death or serious bodily injury to others; to capture a fleeing suspect who used or appeared likely to use a deadly weapon or who had committed certain felonies including murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, burglary and aggravated assault. There was a howl of protest from the ranks and in the City Council, but with Green and Goode's support, Solomon made it stick and the number of civilians shot by the police dropped as the following table shows: SW1 5 Wounded Killed Total 1977 47 15 62 1978 46 21 67 1979 47 17 64 Under Solomon 1980 30 13 43 1981 25 6 31 1982 18 4 22 1983 21 3 24 With Green and Goode's backing, he ended the practice of officers obtaining duty transfers or promotions by using political pull. That ruffled some political feathers, but his officers came to know that they could be promoted on merit and that duty transfers were meted out fairly. In the same vein he removed favoritism and political influence from the arraignment process by refusing to permit arrested persons to be processed out of turn. When his order was violated in August 1982 in the case of two suspects in a gangland shooting, five officers were suspended for periods ranging from 10 to 30 days.

That typified his approach to discipline. Friends and foes were treated alike. Nothing was swept under the rug. He fired 85 officers and 33 more quit under departmental charges. When federal authorities began investigating police corruption, he cooperated rather than stonewalling.

His men came to feel that he relished being a disciplinarian, that he couldn't differentiate between a mistake of the head and a mistake of the heart. But those who respect him for tightening discipline say thai he got results, and that's essential in what, after all, is a paramilitary organization. A good deal more can be said for Solomon that he ended the department's resistance to having women officers; that he vastly improved the department's relations with the press and that he and John L. Hogan, special agent in charge of the FBI in Philadelphia, formed an FBI-police task force that works fulltimc on organized crime. It is the only unit of its kind in the nation and.

in a law enforcement rarity, it solved the mob slaying of John McCul-lough, president of Roofers Union Local 30. Whatever Solomon's faults and mistakes, he leaves the department in far better shape professionally than it was four years ago. For that he deserves a "well done" salute and the city's gratitude. By Edwin Guthman Editor ol The Inquirer "If your mother says she loves you, check her out." That's advice Police Commissioner Morton B. Solomon gave so often not always in jest in his 33 years and eight months on the Philadelphia force that it is indelibly connected with his name in department lore.

He is the man who never took anything for granted; the blunt, strict disciplinarian who ran the department with an even hand. He is not beloved by his men, but in the eyes of many outside the department, including lawmen, public officials and community activists, he is a tough cop who took on a tough job and did it well. Next month he'll be retiring along with Mayor Bill Green who appointed him commissioner four years ago. Solomon worked harmoniously with Wilson Goode when the mayor-elect was city manager, but Goode, sensing that the police need a change of leadership because the griping about Solomon is widespread in the ranks, has turned the job over to Chief Inspector George J. Sambor.

While Solomon would have liked to have stayed on, he's leaving with no regrets. "If I had to do everything over again las commissioner! I'd do them the same way," he says, "and I've enjoyed every minute of my 33 years and eight months." He's postponing his usual year-end vacation to make sure the transition goes easily for Sambor, his Police Academy classmate. Then he'll leave with his head high and, by my way of thinking, he has every right to do so. If he had accomplished nothing else, Solomon deserves to be ranked as an outstanding commissioner for having reduced tension between the police and blacks and Ilispanics virtually to the vanishing point and for improving the general public's respect for the men in uniform. Pmiaaaionia inournr wiluam F.

STfctNMETjl Police Commissioner Morton Solomon Through September There are some in the department who say that the numbers dropped, in part, because officers became less willing to take chances. But crime in the city, bad as it is, has stabilized, if it has not, as FBI records show, decreased since 1980. Whatever, fewer civilians and fewer police officers have been shot and the city's terrible, destabilizing burden of hostility between the police and the citizens blacks and Hispanics in particular has been lifted. Not long after becoming commissioner, Solomon was ordered to lay off 600 police officers as the city struggled to avoid bankruptcy. Many of them had been on the force only a short time.

It wasn't easy or pleasant, but it was done. Outside the Police Department and City Hall it is not generally well known how far Solomon went in de-politicizing the force. its tone, saw that it filtered down to the officers on the street and made it a reality. In doing that, the most important, the most controversial and the most innovative innovative only for Philadelphia, that is step he took was to issue a written order on when police officers could fire their weapons. The directive made it a matter of policy that officers were to "exhaust all other reasonable means of apprehension and control before resorting to the use of deadly force." While stating clearly that officers were not to endanger themselves unnecessarily or unreasonably, the policy stated that they would be justified in shooting Even his sternest critics in the ranks give him credit for that, albeit somewhat be-grudgingly.

But the fact is that complaints of police brutality are seldom heard. Day-today relations between the police and blacks and Hispanics are so normal that doesn't mean perfect, just normal that they no longer are an issue for anyone's platform. That wasn't the situation when Solomon took over for Joseph F. O'Neill, who was commissioner through Mayor Rizzo's two terms. Green and Goode deserve a good deal of credit, too.

They faced up to the Police Department's problem of excessive use of force. They set the policy, but Solomon set Prayer, music, comedy Wat JPfnlabelprua inquirer Op-ed Page Students at O'Hara wake up early 7-G Sunday, Dec. 18. 1983 Great thoughts Column-writing can beat working By Tom Fox" Inquirer Editorial Board Every morning at 8:15, just as students are arriving for classes at Cardinal O'Hara High in Springfield, Delaware County, the music starts. Now, I am not talking about brass band music that the O'Hara High Marching Band plays at the football games.

I'm talking about contemporary rock music, the ear-shattering sound that modern kids really dig like Michael Jackson's "Pretty Young Thing" or maybe "All You Zombies," by The Hooters. This decibel-shattering music starts on the school's public address system and when it does, O'Hara's 3,300 students begin a mad rush for their homerooms and something called "Wake Up O'Hara." A reasonable man might wonder aloud about the state of education in America private and public. But looks are often deceiving. What takes place at quarter past eight at O'Hara High every morning is just a modern approach to the launching of a school day in modern America with the emphasis on contemporary music and television. "Wake Up O'Hara" is an early morning telecast of O'Hara High news, written and produced by 125 O'Hara students, 20 of them technicians, who come to school early ever-y morning to put the show together.

It always starts with the Pledge "Mr. Fish," says Marty Farrell, "how did you get up on the roof?" "I flew up here, Mr. Farrell," Vincent Fish answers. "Oh, my, your arms must be tired," Marty Farrell says. Meanwhile, hundreds of students in their homerooms began shouting insults to Marty Farrell on the roof.

"Jump, Marty, jump," they yell. And Marty Farrell does. Playing to the television cameras, he rushes, with exaggerated gestures, to the edge of the roof, tosses his hat to the ground three stories below and jumps. He jumps about three feet into the air, landing safely on the roof, of course. Again, laughter is heard in every homeroom.

Soon the 15-minute program ends with greetings to O'Hara students celebrating a birthday that particular day and the students leave their homerooms in high spirits for the first class of the morning. "How do they ever make the transition from 'Wake Up O'Hara' to their studies?" I asked moderator Mike Heron. "It's never been a problem," Mike Heron said. "Our principal, Father Phillip Cribben, says it's a positive way to start a school day. "He says the music and the television program make the kids feel good about the school and about themselves." commentaries on the troubles in Lebanon and Grenada or the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination.

"We've got everything but a police beat," said Mike Heron, the young faculty moderator of "Wake Up O'Hara" and an English and history teacher. "If an O'Hara student is busted for speeding, we don't report it to the student body the next morning. But we do feature weekly messages from our principal and the school disciplinarian." He flicked a switch and O'Hara disciplinarian Bill McCusker was spelling out on videotape a new set of rules for the school cafeteria. "Keep it clean," he said. "If you drop French fries on the floor at home and pick them up, then pick them up here at O'Hara." Then there's the comedy portion of the show featuring O'Hara High's top ham, Marty Farrell, a 17-year-old kid who stirs memories of Jimmy Stewart.

He is a grandson of the legendary Marty Lyons, the late golf pro at Llanerch who taught Jim Tate and Cardinal Krol how to handle a five-iron. Marty Farrell occasionally performs on the rooftop of O'Hara High, assisted by Vincent Fish, the best drummer in the school band. Marty Farrell cracks a joke and Vincent Fish rolls the drums and laughter is heard throughout the school. ing, at least to someone with a Tory sensibility and ordinary curiosity. I carry in my wallet a list of topics I am itching to get to, and I usually add to Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a prayer written by an honors English senior and recited on the school's in-house television network.

There are television sets in every room. "Dear Lord," Joanne Geary began her prayer, "during our adolescent years we need Your guidance and support we need You as our friend." Every day a different student writes and delivers a different prayer and 3,300 O'Hara students share in the thought. Such freedom is not allowed in public school. It's against the law. "Wake Up O'Hara" is O'Hara's version of "Good Morning, America," with the ticking clock, the interviews and news reports and a bit of comedy, too.

One day the really big story might be the highlights of an O'Hara football win or a hype of the "Big Chance" drive to raise funds for school activities. But now and then the student producers reach out into the "outside world" for reports and By George F. Will WASHINGTON It is a decade since forever seeking madder music and stronger wine, found the perfect pleasure: writing a column. So today 1 take time out from vivisecting the rest of the world to say something about this vocation and to acknowledge a debt of gratitude. My three children, watching me all day in my office at home, consider me unemployed, which in a sense I am.

Nothing so pleasurable can be called a job. not hard," wrote Stephen Leacock. "Just get paper and pencil, sit down, and write as it occurs to you. The writing is easy it's the occurring that's hard." I disagree. Today's world is endlessly provok- Makes life easier Christ's teachings could use a little revision We could go on citing examples of Christ's actions and teachings which today seem quaint, recklessly idealistic and courageously compassionate, but surely you get the point.

We are living a two-faced life, paying lip service to lofty principles, yet pursuing our mindlessly materialistic rat-race. Only radical revisions of the New Testament can bring our Biblical heritage into line with our lifestyle. By so doing, we can become honest once more, end our hypocrisy, and in the light of lowered standards, lay claim to being a Christian nation. Or dare we face the alternative applying revisionism to ourselves then working to cure a sick world? (Kenneth Wray Conners is an author and lay theologian. His most recent book is "Lord, Have You Gof a We've worked hard to make a killing, and in the process exploited our neighbors, our technology, our environment.

If the Third World is so backward, so lagging in initiative, so unable to manage its affairs, why should we be expected to share our bounty with no prospect of return? Still another Biblical injunction advises us "if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Now that's no way to save face, is it? Everyone knows that to turn the other cheek is an admission of weakness, of cowardice, of surrender. Whether in the boxing ring, in the bastions of business, or in the political arena, it behooves a person attacked to lash out and retaliate, or take evasive action and cover up. Our society is geared to self-preservation and not to honor, self-sacrifice and integrity. would have difficulty disposing of unused bomb sights, rocket launchers and intercontinental missiles, even at fire-sale prices. And just visualize the frustration for the admirals and generals at the Pentagon! What would they do when they no longer could dress up in gold braid, play war games, aim missiles at Moscow or target bombs for future delivery? Jesus also is alleged to have said, "If anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well." Another impractical idea! Can you imagine how this would play in Manhattan? "Can you spare a dollar, buddy?" pleads a panhandler.

"Sure, my good fellow," you reply, radiating compassion. "But let me make it a fiver." At which point the panhandler summons an accomplice. "Look, Joey, here's a patsy. You hold his arms while I empty his wallet." Can you conceive of a meek business executive, a meek bond salesman, a meek TV newscaster, a meek Academy Awards winner? No, the meek are condemned to relief lines, to hand-me-downs, to menial duties, perhaps to a religious order. After all, if only they had more conceit, aggressiveness, a touch of ruthless-ness and would get off their duffs, they might acquire some of the good things of life, like all normal red-blooded Americans.

Another Biblical admonition which must be changed is that nonsense about beating swords into plowshares. This might be good for John Deere, Massey-Ferguson or International Harvester, but think what it would do to Rockwell International, Honeywell or General Dynamics! The stock market would dive. Army and Navy Surplus Stores it about six topics a week. But 1 only write two columns a week, which is not enough to do justice to the trainwreck of American manners, let alone public policy. 1 write in longhand, with a fountain pen, of course.

I do so not as a political statement although a Tory could hardly do otherwise but because writing should be a tactile pleasure. You should sentences taking shape. People who use "word processors" should not be surprised if what they write is to prose as process cheese is to real cheese. The columnist's craft has an alarmingly distinguished pedigree, beginning with Addison, Steele and Dr. Johnson.

What Henry Adams said of the succession of presidents from Washington to Grant (that it rffutcd the theory of evolution) can fairly be said of the succession of columnists from Johnson to Will. But it cannot be said of the succession from Johnson to my favorite columnist, Murray Kempton. Here is my expression of gratitude. I meandered into this craft, via university teaching and Senate staff work, but I know this: I am a columnist because 25 years ago, when I came East to college, I discovered the delights of Kempton, who then wrote for the New York Post, which then was a newspaper. Every serious citizen must read the sports pages, which are Heaven's gift to struggling mortals.

But nothing is more optional than reading a column. Congress should make it compulsory, but will not. So a columnist needs three seductive skills: He must be pleasurable, concise and gifted at changing the subject frequently. Changing the subject is easy: I write at least half my columns on subjects that are not on the front page, or often any page, of newspapers. It is an aim of my life to die without having written a column about who will win the New Hampshire primary.

But, then, I may be the only journalist in Christendom who has never been to New Hampshire. Most newspaper readers do not 75 percent of my readers disagree with 75 percent of what I write. That is fine: It means the audience is opinionated, in need of instruction and capable of enjoying aggravation if it is inflicted with some felicity. Readers do not read a columnist because of his subject on a particular day. Rather, they read or do not read him because they like or dislike the way his mind ranges around the social landscape.

The amazing thing is that something this much fun is not illegal. Bobby Knight, Indiana University's basketball coach who thinks of journalists the way Mussolini thought of Ethiopia, says: "All of us learn to write in the second grade. Most of us go on to greater things." But it is impossible to do anything well, anything not done between the foul lines in a baseball park more satisfying than writing. (George F. Will was Washington editor of the National Review before beginning his syndicated column in 1974.) Changing course By Kenneth Wray Conners When members of a social order find the principles and ideologies of their founder no longer valid, they often alter the original teachings so they will conform with present-day reality.

The process is called "revisionism." We've seen the leaders of China apply revisionism to the teachings of Chairman Mao Tse-tung when it became clear that the needs of modern China were not being served by the chairman, or his "Gang of Four." It is said that Karl Marx would have been devastated emotionally by the failure of those who engineered the Russian revolution to adhere to his precepts and create the kind of society he envisioned. If we apply this analytical process to the functioning of our nation, and compare present-day values and practices with the Christian heritage of our Founding Fathers, it becomes clear that the process of revisionism is long overdue. There simply is no justification for putting up with ideologies as recorded in our New Testament Bible, when they sre so slicn to our wv of lifp. Take, for example, Christ's injunction to love our enemies'. Now there's a flaky, impractical idea! To adopt it would require us to love the Russians.

Environmentalists would have to love polluters. Labor would have to love management, and vice versa. Attorneys, family counselors, many psychiatrists and most advice-to-the-lovelorn columnists would be out of work. And even more disturbing, this radical concept could put an end to violence: in the home, on the highway, in sports, on television. Life would become incredibly boring, without inner hostilities to work off.

Or consider the beatitude voiced by Jesus, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Did you ever hear anything so ridiculous? How could a meek politician ever be elected to office and inherit a city ward, a county, a state, or the White House itself? How could a meek public relations or advertising practitioner survive, let alone pirate a rival's clients? The second career beckons somewhat services. I'd fire all my employees who dealt with customers and do everything by computer. Next, I'd increase the charge for each check a customer wrote. I'd make it clear to customers that all my bank wants is their money. We don't want to spend a lot of time on bookkeeping with people putting money in and taking it out.

The doll business looks good this year. I could make and sell some new doll. It would have to be different from the Cabbage Patch doll. You get adoption papers with those and each one is a little different because it's designed by computers that alter the features every time a doll is born. If I go into the doll business, I'd have to have a new gimmick.

I wouldn't make a baby doll. I'd make a grown-up doll for kids. The more realistic a doll is the better. I'd produce a mother and a father doll. Instead treating their dolls like babies, little girls and boys could treat their Mommy and Daddy dolls the way they treat their real mothers and fathers.

Little boys and girls-could pretend they didn't hear their Daddy doll when it told them not to watch any more television. Boys and girls with my dolls could pretend it was the middle of the night. They'd make believe thoy were sick to their stomach and they'd start crying so their dolls would have to get up and take them to the bathroom to throw up. If my doll company did this thing right, we could make everyone forget about the Cabbage Patch dolls. There are a lot of new telephone companies starting up.

I don't understand what's happening but maybe I ought to start a new telephone business. A lot of the new companies don't seem to understand what they're doing, either. If I start a telephone company, the first thing I'll dq is raise the rates. I'll By Andy Rooney It might be a good idea if there were a law making it mandatory for each of us to stop doing whatever we're doing once every 10 years and start doing something else. So often we get caught up with the idea of security that we end up doing the same thing all our lives.

I was thinking maybe I ought to set out to make some real money. I'm not complaining now but I'm thinking of big bucks. I'd be a tycoon of some sort. I've thought of several possibilities: Starting a bank might be a good idea for me. Last night at a party I actually met two people who said they were starting a bank.

I didn't even know you could just start a bank until they told me. Maybe that's what I ought to do. If I did that and wanted to make those big bucks, the first thing I'd do after my bank got going and I had my customers wpuld be to cut down on make some little mistakes on your bills, too. This will make you think I'm just a regular telephone company. After I've raised the rates on your long distance calls, I'll apply for another increase on your local rates.

I'll need the money to pay for the extra help I'll have to hire to count the extra money coming in from the long distance increase. Anything having to do with diets makes money these days. I might even put out a diet credit card just for supermarket grocery stores. Instead of charging food by the pound, food would be charged to you by the calorie. This would provide you with a good reason to lose weight.

I don't know. Maybe I'll just stick to what I'm doing. The money isn't that bad. (Andy Rooney's comments are also heard on the television program "60 i.