Of Balloons and Boys

Not since 1960, when 25 policemen were implicated in a burglary ring, had the police of Des Moines been so scandalized. "It's unbelievable," said City Manager Tom Chenoweth. "I've never seen anything like it." The Police Burial & Protective Association issued a statement of repudiation. The police chief promised a thorough shakeup and dismissed three offending policemen.

What grave misdeed had they done? They had been found guilty of smashing the windows of a barber shop, a gas station and two unoccupied autos with BBs fired from slingshots and of dropping balloons filled with water from a fifth story onto passing cars. It was precisely the boyishness of the offenses that disturbed city officials. Said Chenoweth: "It would have been more understandable if they had done something serious. You know, you expect a cop to go crooked." But is there not a little room for rejoicing that, at least in Des Moines, when a few policemen stray off the line, it is balloons and slingshots they play with instead of heroin and the Mafia?

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