The Robbins eagle., January 15, 1955, VILLAGE HOME EDITION, Page 2, Image 2

About The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
» Spotlight«
BY JOEL FISHER
A ROBBINS’ policewoman’s
job is a tiring, thankless one.
As an added arm of our law
enforcement agency, she stands
as a symbol of duty, willingness,
and discretion. Operating under
general conditions of poor police
facilities, using public transpor
tation, lack of cooperation, lack
of parental and civic interest,
lack of regular pay, and seem
ing disinterest on the part of
the police committee, she stands
alone among her fellow officers.
It takes a lot of courage and
love of humanity to combat the
gnawing ineptness of public of
ficials and juvenile delinquency
in the village.
Mrs. Rosa Lee Foy, Robbins’
only policewoman, has a some
times exciting, often heartbreak
ing, and unbelievably thankless
job. Often called upon at un
godly hours, she continues to
serve the Village—and you—in
a fight against juvenile delin
quency. A typical day in her
life might begin at 6:00 a.m.,
when her phone jangles on the
hook. A 15-year-old girl is
picked up by the police for,
we 11 say drunkenness. 1 he of
ficer on duty calls Mrs. Foy,
who, unless the squad car is
available, has to take a bus to
the station. Arriving at the
Village Hall, Mrs. Foy gets the
facts from the arresting of^cer
and the girl. The girl’s parents
are notified and the girl is re
tained until the seriousness of
the crime or charge has been
determined. If she can be tried
in the village, she is either book
ed, held, or released on bond
to her parents. We’ll say, tho’
that the charge was more seri
ous and necessitated a trip to
the State’s Attorney’s office.
Then Mrs. Foy must accom
pany the girl and the officers to
the County jail where all reports
and evidence must be presented.
It is only fair to point out here
that Mrs. Foy is driven to the
jail by Village Police. Often
long hours must be spent at
the County Jail, and cases are
shuttled to various rooms and
courts. For the record, we’ll say
the girl was assigned to Juve
nile Court and disposition was
made of her case. In a lot of
instances, Judge Dunn will
release the girl to Mrs. Foy’s
custody. She may leave the
Court House at 2:00 or 3:00
p.m., if she’s lucky. Sometimes
it is after 4:00 p.m. Too, she
must buy her own meals and
pay for her son's meals because
of her absence at home. Arriv
ing home, she may begin to do
to be called again on another 1
t
case. The case is by no means'
closed, however, as Mrs. Foy
checks on the girl, advises her
parents, and gives the girl the
extra boost that may mena the
difference between going wrong
again or starting on a new level.
In addition to court duties, Mrs.
Foy has been helpful in keeping
truants off the streets, in co
operation with Mr. Albert John
son, the Truant Officer. Or, she
may be asked by the States
Attorney’s office to help locate
runaways or missing children
from other cities. She must be
present at the arrest of and/qr
retention of all teen-age girls
picked up by the Robbins police,
some neglected cleaning, only
How did Mrs. Foy’s job come
about? Last year the States At
torney’s office recommended
that the Robbins Police force
provide a policewoman to handle
various cases. A majority of the
Trustees voted for her appoint
ment. While she was given the
powTer of arrest, the same as a
policeman, her primary duties
were to work with the juveniles.
After completing a rigorous non
paying training course at Blue
Island and in Chicago, and
studying books and methods on
juvenile problems and solutions,
Mrs. Foy was hired by the
Board at $10.00 a month. Her
job is hard and demanding, and
she works hard to help keep
your streets safe and protect
your children, and help you in
solving your juvenile problems.
For doing a job that few men
would have, Mrs. Foy has re
ceived little encouragement,
guarded thanks, and little pay.
No, not even the measley $10.00
a month agreed upon, has at
times, been forthcoming. Even
now, the Village is in arrears in
her pay. To ad insult to injury,
' she has to pay for her’ own'
public transportation! The free
courtesy bus pass which most
policemen have, and which was
promised to Mrs. Foy months
ago, by the ruling of the elders
of the Police Board, seems to
have gotten lost. At any rate,
maybe this will remind them.
Surely, the general fund out of
which Mrs. Foy is supposed to
be paid can stand to be dented
once a month for the $10.00 she
earns. And most certainly, the
promises and good words of our
Village officials responsible for
this boner must be upheld. Last
ly, Police Board Chairman Mr.
Elbert (Zip) Johnson, the one
man who can perhaps do more
to alleviate some of Mrs. Foy’s
problems and help make her job
more tolerable, can come up
with something better than "It’s
a dirty trick.” I agree, It IS a
dirty trick.
Two affairs that should in
terest the youth of the com
munity are coming up this week
end. Saturday night the Masons
will again sponsor the Junior
Craftsman’s Club at the Mason
ic Hall, 139th and Lydia. If you
missed the first meeting, you
won’t want to forget this one.
All boys between the ages of
12 to 20 are cordially invited to
participate or find out how you
may become a regular member.
A lot of plans for the coming
summer are being made. You
won’t want to miss all the fun.
Then, Sunday, the Sunday
School of St. John Community
Church, 3426 South Harding
will present its second 3rd Sun
day Evening Hour Program
from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The
guest speaker will be Mrs.
Hensley, who will speak on
(Continued on page 7)
>A LIST OF PLACES
WHERE YOU MAY
BUY “THE EAGLE”
COLA’S HI-WAY DELICA
TESSEN, 2910 Claire Blvd.
TRIANGLE DEPT. STORE.
13908 Claire Boulevard
S. & S. SODA FOUNTAIN
1147th and Robey Street
Harvey, Illinois
M. & M. GROCERY
135th and Homan Avenue
McCRARY'S HARDWARE &
PAINT STORE, 137th Street
(Next door to Post Office)
GEO. WALKER'S Groceries &
Meats, 3112 West 139th Street
AMERICAN FOOD STORE
Corner 139th & Lydia Avenue
TURNER'S GROC. & MKT.
Cor. 137th & Claire Blvd.
COMMUNITY BAR & GRILL
139th & Claire Boulevard
JACKSON LIQUOR STORE
3231 West 137th Street
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