Public trust in the integrity of the nation's police forces, the Kanagawa prefectural police in particular, was severely tested in recent weeks as revelations followed, in quick succession, of a series of major scandals embroiling its officers. The National Public Safety Commission and the National Police Agency were not quick enough in reprimanding the three senior Kanagawa po lice officials involved in repeated attempts to cover up the scandals. It is still too early to tell whether the steps taken can succeed in repairing the damage. While their reputations un doubtedly have suffered, their official punishment amounts to no more than one-month pay cuts.

The commission and the NPA apparently had intended to wait to take any disciplinary action until a "complete picture" was available of the incidents for which the media and the public were criticizing Mr. Takeo Miyama, the Kanagawa prefectural police chief, Mr. Eiji Nakabayashi, head of the police affairs department there, and Mr. Kazuo Morisada, head of the police inspector's office. That was a mistake, as the mounting public outcry over the Kanagawa officials' repeated release of misleading and even untrue information finally made clear.

The main concern of the senior officials appears to have been that release of the facts would have harmed the Kanagawa prefectural police "immeasurably." That is the reason they routinely met to decide in advance exactly what to say at news conferences to media representatives attempting to get to the bottom of the scandals. But this only led to the making of repeated "corrections" of and revisions to previous statements as the coverups unraveled and the serious nature of the incidents became obvious. The reckless disregard for the truth displayed by Mr. Miyama in his news conference appearances betrayed arrogant contempt for the very public the nation's police officers are charged with serving.