St. Paul Newspaper Wiretaps Police | MN History

St. Paul‘s Corrupt Past: How Wiretaps Exposed Police Bribery and Transformed Law Enforcement

A Chilling discovery unfolded within the walls of the St. Paul Police department in early 1935. Detective James Crumley stumbled upon a hidden dictograph microphone planted discreetly in his office,recording his conversations with fellow officers and visitors. This revelation was just the tip of the iceberg in a sweeping police corruption scandal that would rock the city.

The Secret Wiretap Operation

Wallace Ness Jamie, a 27-year-old private investigator, orchestrated the secret operation. Hired by the St. Paul Daily News, Jamie’s mission was to expose the deep-seated corruption festering within the department. With the approval of the city’s public safety commissioner,jamie infiltrated police headquarters,strategically placing bugs and tapping phone lines to capture incriminating evidence.

The conversations Jamie recorded unveiled a network of corruption, revealing that several high-ranking officers were accepting bribes. These bribes were payoffs to protect illegal gambling operations and prostitution rings that thrived under their watch.Crumley himself played a central role in facilitating this illicit web of activity.

The O’Connor system and Prohibition‘s Influence

Before this explosive revelation, St. Paul operated under what was known as the “O’Connor System.” This unspoken agreement allowed criminals to function, provided they kept major crime out of the public eye. While the city seemed relatively peaceful, this system laid the foundation for future corruption. Maccabee noted, “That’s the amazing thing about this: It wasn’t a secret. It was openly discussed.”

The situation worsened dramatically with the advent of Prohibition in 1920, offering an unprecedented surge in illicit income. “The O’Connor System was an vital part of why St. Paul became so corrupt, but Prohibition definitely lit the fuse on the worst of the corruption,” Maccabee explained.

From Bootlegging to Bank Robberies

Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, St. Paul’s criminal enterprises shifted their focus. They turned to kidnapping, bank robbery, and illegal gambling in their continued pursuit of profit.These new avenues of crime brought heightened attention to St. Paul and its reputation as a safe harbor for criminals.

Grand Jury Whitewash and Public Outcry

In early 1934, St. Paul faced mounting pressure to shed its image as a haven for outlaws. The kidnappings of prominent businessmen Edward Bremer and william Hamm Jr. spurred the city’s embarrassed mayor to form a grand jury. Its purpose was to investigate the extent of the city’s alleged crime problem. But a local newspaper editor,Howard Kahn,had been waging a lonely campaign against the city’s lawlessness for months,and faced ridicule for his efforts.

The Front Page Of The March 31, 1934, Issue Of The St. Paul Daily News Reported That Gangsters Had Shot Their Way Out Of A Lexington Parkway Apartment Building The Same Day That A Grand Jury Found that No “Excess Of Crime Exists Here.”

Ironically, just hours after the grand jury concluded that “there is no justification for any charges that an excess of crime exists here,” infamous fugitive John Dillinger engaged in a dramatic shootout with federal agents, escaping from a lexington Parkway apartment complex.

The St. Paul Daily News blasted the headline, “MACHINE GUNS BLAZE AS JURY WHITEWASHES POLICE.” The public was finally swayed,electing reformer Ned Warren as public safety commissioner later that year on a pledge to clean up the police department.

Jamie’s Undercover Operation

After taking office, Warren enlisted Kahn’s help, embedding Jamie in the Public Safety Building (now the Penfield apartment complex). Posing as number-crunchers conducting an “administrative survey,” Jamie and his team meticulously documented police corruption. “He drew a bunch of diagrams … and the cops looked at them and laughed behind his back,” Kahn recalled.

For four months, the operation remained secret. Eventually, Crumley discovered the hidden microphone and alerted his corrupt colleagues. But, it was too late. Jamie’s team had already amassed 400 aluminum phonograph records filled with damning conversations.

One recording caught detective Fred Raasch tipping off the Riverview Commercial Club about an impending raid on its gambling operation. Another captured Crumley complaining to a bookie about a delayed bribe. “Say, when are you going to play Santa? We’re all broke up here,” Crumley asked.

The Fallout and Reform

Warren presented Mayor Mark Gehan with Jamie’s findings, including 3,000 pages of transcripts implicating 13 officers. The police chief was promptly suspended and soon resigned. Kahn trumpeted the story on the front page of the Daily News, detailing the newspaper’s role in “the most drastic shake-up in the city’s history.”

Warren appointed Gus Barfuss,a strict and ethical officer,as acting police chief.Barfuss later succeeded Warren as public safety commissioner and continued the campaign against corruption. By 1941, an FBI survey praised Barfuss for having “cleaned out” the St. Paul Police Department. Today,the department maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.

The Front Page Of The June 24, 1935, Issue Of The St.Paul Daily News Announced That Several Of The City’s Top Police Officials Had Been Caught Up In A Wiretap Sting.

According to police spokeswoman Alyssa Arcand the St. Paul Police Department remains committed to keeping the Department clean and ethical. A peer intervention program instituted in 2021 teaches officers how to recognize and address unethical behavior. Maccabee cautions that vigilance is crucial, especially given the opportunities for graft presented by illicit drug markets today.

Lessons for Today

“There’s no question that the St. Paul Police Department is radically different today than it was then,” Maccabee stated, emphasizing the importance of vigilance against complacency. the history of police corruption in St. Paul serves as a potent reminder of the need for constant oversight and ethical conduct.

Summary of Key Events

Year	Event	Description
Early 1935	Wiretap Operation	Wallace Ness Jamie secretly records police conversations, exposing corruption.
1935	Police Shake-Up	Jamie’s evidence leads to the suspension of the police chief and the implication of 13 officers.
1941	FBI Survey	Gus Barfuss praised for cleaning out the St. Paul Police Department.
2021	Peer Intervention Program	St.Paul Police Department institutes a program to address unethical behavior.

The Enduring Importance of ethical Policing

The St. Paul police corruption scandal underscores the vital importance of ethical standards and accountability in law enforcement. While significant progress has been made, maintaining a culture of integrity requires ongoing effort. In june 2024, the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) released updated guidelines on ethics and integrity in policing, emphasizing the need for openness, community engagement, and thorough training programs[[IACP].These guidelines provide a framework for police departments to build and maintain public trust.

Pro Tip: Regular internal audits and external oversight mechanisms can definitely help prevent corruption and maintain public trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What was the O’Connor System in St. paul?

  the O’Connor System allowed criminals to operate as long as they kept major crime off the streets, contributing to St. Paul’s corruption.

• How did Prohibition affect police corruption in St. Paul?

  Prohibition worsened corruption by providing criminals with a lucrative income from illegal alcohol sales.

• Who was Wallace Ness Jamie and what did he do?

  Jamie was a private investigator who exposed police corruption by secretly bugging police headquarters.

• What was the outcome of the wiretap sting operation?

  The operation led to the suspension of the police chief and implicated 13 officers in corruption.

• What measures were taken to reform the St. Paul Police Department?

  reformer Ned Warren and Gus Barfuss implemented measures to “clean up” the police department.

• How does the St. paul Police Department prevent corruption today?

  The department uses a peer intervention program and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

Questions for Our Readers

Do you think similar systems of corruption coudl exist in other cities today? What measures do you believe are most effective in preventing police corruption?

Share your thoughts and join the conversation below!

What specific legal precedents, both federal and state, regarding wiretaps and the press, exist in Minnesota and the United States, and how do they impact the balance between public safety and the First Amendment?

St.Paul Newspaper Wiretaps & Police Surveillance: A past Examination in Minnesota

The history of St. Paul, Minnesota, is interwoven with a complex past, including the scrutiny of law enforcement practices and the rights of the press. This article delves into the controversial topic of St.Paul newspaper wiretaps and police surveillance activities, exploring their impact on local journalism, freedom of data, and the fundamental rights of Minnesota citizens. We’ll examine specific wiretap cases St. Paul faced, providing a comprehensive analysis of their legal and ethical dimensions.

The Press Under Surveillance: A Historical Context

The relationship between law enforcement and the press has often been fraught with tension, especially when dealing with sensitive information and investigations. In St. paul, and throughout Minnesota, the use of surveillance technology, including wiretaps, to monitor newspaper operations has raised serious concerns. The fundamental question revolves around the balance between public safety and the vital role of a free press in a democratic society. In the world of journalism, the press has the power to investigate and report, holding the authorities accountable for its actions. Though,the press itself holds sensitive information and may become a target for surveillance.

Early Uses of Wiretaps and Their Legal Framework

The history of wiretapping in the United States dates back to the late 19th century. Its early uses were often unregulated and largely used by law enforcement. As technology advanced, so did the sophistication of such surveillance methods. Here’s a glance at some critical legal events surrounding wiretapping in the USA and Minnesota:

• Early Days: Early wiretaps relied on directly connecting to phone lines.
• Federal Regulation: The Wiretap Act of 1968, part of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, laid down some restrictions on the use of wiretaps by both federal and state authorities.
• minnesota’s Role: Minnesota implemented its own laws pertaining to surveillance, defining procedures for warrants and limitations on the purposes of the wiretaps.

Notable Cases & Impact on Journalism

Several high-profile cases in St. Paul history highlight the impact of police wiretaps on local journalism. These instances often involved investigations into organized crime or corruption where journalists potentially possessed sensitive information. Examining these cases provides essential insight into the challenges the press faces in guarding its sources and reporting on events that involve police scrutiny. The following focuses on some examples of those impacts.

case Study 1: [Hypothetical case Name]

In this hypothetical case, the St. Paul Police Department allegedly wiretapped a specific newspaper’s phones, potentially to identify the source of leaked information about a corruption examination to the press. This incident highlights the tension between police tactics and a free press.

Aspect	Details
Alleged Purpose of Wiretap	Identifying source of leaked information about police corruption.
Impact on Journalism	Threat to confidential sources; chilling effect on reporting.
Legal Outcomes	information would be needed to determine this.

Case Study 2: [Another Hypothetical Case Name]

Another incident may have involved surveillance of a newspaper investigating local organized crime. The police used wiretaps to try to monitor the journalists’ actions, which further intricate the investigation process of both parties.

Aspect	Details
Alleged Purpose of Wiretap	Gaining insight into the newspaper’s investigation of organized crime, and potentially finding their sources.
Impact on Journalism	Stifles investigation of the press; potentially harms their ability to report on the community.
Legal Outcomes	Information would be needed to determine this.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The use of wiretaps in the press brings forward both legal and ethical concerns. The press acts as a watchdog in the city,and is meant to report the issues of the city for the community. Intercepting this reporting will stop this process. Police surveillance of the press is a risky method, and threatens the First Amendment.

First amendment implications

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is a crucial cornerstone of civil rights. In the context of wiretaps and the press, the First Amendment implications are of utmost importance. The First Amendment ensures freedom of speech and press.St. Paul newspaper wiretaps must, thus, be managed carefully to protect these vital rights.

• Freedom of the Press: The right of the press to gather and report information, free from governmental interference.
• Confidentiality of Sources: Journalists frequently enough rely on confidential sources to get to the root of the facts.
• Government Overreach: Surveillance of the press could set a dangerous precedent for government overreach.

Ethical Debates Regarding Surveillance

Beyond the legal elements of wiretaps, ethical arguments bring important issues to light. Some of these arguments are as follows:

• Public Interests: Does the need for law enforcement to fight crime justify wiretaps of journalists?
• Transparency: How can the public be aware of surveillance?
• Protection of rights: How can we balance public safety and press freedoms?

Tips for protecting Journalists’ Rights

The press holds an essential place in society. Their ability to research and distribute information is of the highest importance. It is important to protect those rights. Here are a couple ways to keep a high standard of journalism:

• Legislative Action: Advocate for laws that limit surveillance of the press.
• Journalistic Practices: Protect internal communications and confidential sources.
• Public Education: Educate the public on press freedoms, which can prevent this.