The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-31
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONER
FIRST MEETING UNDER THE AMENDED
OF THE BOARD AND POLICEMEN-TRIAL
AND DISMISSAL OF A POLICENAN-APPLI-
CANTs FOR APPOINTMENT.

CANTS FOR APPOINTMENT.
The Board OF Police Commissioners elect
ed under the provisions OF the amended
charter of the city met at the residence OF
the Mayor, No. 405 east Clay street, yester-
day afternoon at 5 o'clock.
His Honor the Mayor, who is eI-oflcio pre-
sident of the new Board, having been con-
tined to his house several weeks by illness,
was unable to attend at his office, the
usual place for the meetings OF the Board.
The members Of the Board were pre-
sent, and qualified by taking and suoscrl-
bine the oath OF office, Mr.. D. c. Richard
son. clerk to the Police Justice ander-ot'cao
clerk OF the Board, acting as clerk.
THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THE NEW LAW.
The City Attorney having been requested
by the Board to give his opinion upon
certain points as to the construction OF the
law upon which the new Board is constl-
tuted. appeared in person and submitted
the following:
/. The first. duty OF the Board, after or
canizing and dividing itself into six classes
by lot, is ''to divide the present poLceJ J0Tce
os it no,1 eriSts into three classes by lot"
(a) ssThe present police force as it now
exists /" must be costrued to mean the
Whole forcc-captains, sergeants, and beats
mentor the reason that il any one is eX-
cepted be would be in for life, unless re-
moved, dying, or resigning; and the evident
scheme of the bill is to afford no opportunity
for Ife-tenure.
The chief cannot be divided into classes.
being one person and, moreover, his case
is specially " provided for further on. In
this dapasion, by lot, the captains must be
separately allotted; and also the sergcants,
it not being the fair intendment OF the bill
to promote or reduce members Of the force
in their positions by lot, as we must pre-
sumo.
tb) The Board will have to record the re-
suit OF this lot, and should direct its clerk to
post the lists in the station-houses as they are
chosen.
9. "The Beard shall also classify the police
force OF officers and men into three grades,
to serve respectively three, four, and i've
years iron the date Of appointment
This classification cannot refer to the pre-
sent police force for many reasons:
(a) Because they are already classified.
to- Because different and inconsistent
previous classification is provided for those
in the present force.
(c) Because these grades run from the
respective days of appointment-day very
much more remote than three, four, or hYe
(the stately years in most cases now on duty.
(d) Because to apply it to the present
force would put the whole force in one
grade, since "au appointments shall be
made to the first grade.'
For these reasons think the question Of
qrades is to be answered with reference to
npr appointeeS, and with respect to the
present force only when their terms under
the classification expire and they are can-
didates for disappointment.
8. All officers and superiors shall be ap-
pointed from the highest grade.
This must be construed to refer to new
appontments-flling vacancies the
act nowhere seems to contemplate leSls-
lating any one out OF office.
4. This is the only construction which
will give effect to all parts Of the act, and it
seems to obviate all difficulties but one-the
filing OF vacancies in the ranks OF "oficers
and superiors."
In my opinion, the Board will have au-
thority up to July l, 1880, to fill these va
capcies either from the old force indiSCrimi- l.
nateiv, or from such OF the new appoint
ments as have been promoted to the third
grade; after July /, 1880. only from the
third grade. From the old force, because
it cannot be supposed that the Legislature
intended to disqualiiy those who had been
tried by long service and found worthy !;
and from the new appointees of the third
grade because they will have attained that
grade by merit, and the act makes the 0ccu-
pants of that grade specially eligible to the
higher places.
CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS.
The classification of the members OF the
fo1l hr II
ham was drawn to serve for one year; Mr..
P. Ii. Mayo for two years; Mr.. John End
ers for three years Mr.. z. A. Saunders for
wears; and Mr.. j. II. Shields for six years.
The Board then proceeded to
CLASSIFY THE POLICE FORCE,
with the following result: First class,
whose term Of service will expire on the 1st
day Of July, 1878:
CAPTAIN: Charles II. Epps.
Sergeants John D. Perrin, John T. Hall,
and Daniel Wren.
Policemen: James B. Angle, William &.
Bailey, Lewis NJ. Carter, Henry Charter,
Andrew J. Clarke, Philip F. Clarke, A. r.
Cousins, Louis r. Frayser, John N. Hob
son, Z. P. HuIce, George F. Hulcher, John
Keegan, George Koch, John Krausse,
George II. Matthews, James D. McClusky,
John E. Moody, Peter O'Connor, W. j..
Orange Robert A. Pearman, Jacob W.
Rex, William Shepperson, and Wesley n.
Smith.
OF the second class, whose term Of SER
vice will expire on the 1st day OF July, 1879:
Captain Thomas 3. White.
Sergeants: E. II. Chalkley, Dudley Gil
man, B. F. Howard, and j. II. Parater.
Policemen: Thomas A. Allen, b. NJ.
Angle, w. T. Bibb, Robert j. Brooks,
Henry Burkert, D. R. Carter, Charles /.
Clineley, Junius A. Cosby, Henry W. Dab
ney, Clinton Depriest, George EoX, j: b.
Cartwright, Charles r. Jones, Z. G. Lamkln,
John A. Lloyd, John Oglvie, Mathew
O,Gradv. William Orme, B. E. .PoiteauX,
Thomas L, Skinner, Charles Fl. Sweeney,
w. L. Thomas, John S. Talman, W. q.
Toler. -,
or the third class, whose term will expire
on the 1st day OF July, 1880:
CAPTAIN: James B. Pleasants.
Sergeants: R. r. Seal, w. B. Whitlock,
Robert n. Thomas. .....
Policemen: William 81. Baker, Albin
Burnett, w. n. Colgin, George w. Epps,
John G. Fensom, John Finnegan, 4. B.
Franklin, John Ii. Gill, Maurice j. Griffin,
+. W. Harmon, A. j. James, James P. Je-
ter. F. II. Langley, Samuel Michaels, Jones
A. Otey, william Piaff, William 81. Shields,
A. NJ. Tomlinson, a. j. Tucker, 4. 7. Wal
ton, Wallace Washington, John Fl. Warren,
W. j. White.
Master Clinton Hulce, aged eight years,
did the drawing of all the captains, SER
geants, and privatcs for the classification.
TRIAL OF POLICEMAN.
The Board then proceeded to the trial OF
John E. Moody, charged with conduct un-
hecono;nG q policeman. Specification: 1st.