New-York tribune., 1879-02-06
TIE POLICE BOARD INVESTIGATION.
Maynr Cnoncr has sent the following lcttCr Z

Police Commissioner Erhardt relative 10 the charges
made ny him .ainst the Police Board:
JoEL i. ERHAEpr, egg. Comaissonsr OF Police -.o,.
SIR: In your letter OF saturday, the lat lnst yOu say
that nm Investigation Of the Police Department seems to
YOU to bo required, aud that you VIII very gadIy give
y0nr assistance in such IN Investigation. To this yOu
add hat it does not, however seem you that you
should take position of complainant or limit the
scope Of my action 10y attempting specification OF de,
tails and that you do not wish even 10 seem 10 avoid
responsibility for any official acioh 9 your owl p,,
III your formal cOmmnulc'tlont 10 tie board Oi I9Ice
published IN the newspapers OF the Goh ut TO when
icfcrrcd I'm NY you Of the 3lst ut ana which
assume TO be correctly printed you Imply II NOT cnaige
tbat ereuce and carelcSSncss nave grown w III VI.
handling Of The large sums OF money annually e @
10 the Board O PoIce that the enforcement oi ,ne '"
has been inconsistent, and mat silevous "rSHEs
hayo been done 10 petitioners i9r penstois' i ho1
also directly charge, among .iutr tninxr,I tnS1 ia.
the discipline for violations OF rules anu law
would justify; that chrceSs suess ana eA,raNasunre &
have rewarded that members of the police I"ice
Board % guide ahd slmuiHte tnrin IN. D,t I'M I I'm
witnesses OF the contrary; that cyl futs nave DcSn
borne hereirom thHt the influence of those actively
board Of Police in preventing the punishment OF OF
fcuders than was consistent with their duy stlnG as
0uasi judicial body that transfers OF officers have
been made 10 CRAFTY personal spite or 10 advance III
lcasncss or inchciency in performing the duties I'M
poscd y upon Board, and that AT least one Of
lhc police what party TO assist or hamper at the
ncctlOn held in November, lS7S. You state lurthcr
that Tho existence OF the evils and abuses, some Of
vhch are above alluded to, Is known 10 all gc mem
bfrs c the Board Just as well Is to yourself hnd that 1t
is aIso known 70 Them that The past EIGHT months have
Witnessed mos rapid aud st continuing dcmoralza
ZION ot thc uuilc' force In conclusion, declare
tIof Won arc unwilling by your silence to seem longer
lo be responsible for tho acts OF four men with the
power Of one only.
/ understand that this communication was ordered
ON file y your ass jclatcs and also that they few dayd
earlier sd on the table ctit9in resolutions proposed 10y
yon relating to the same subject
do not see however, that You have been relieved OF
vour re- mon sibv. Nor, Whatever Your reluctance 10
anDoar AZ complainant, fear 10 ciTcunscribe the
.fdpc Of my action 90 why you should not at once
cnlnply With my request iOr Information.
tI1t van
unon facis within your knowledge. Acquaintance with
t,c. tncs would III 10 wise limit any inquiry might
make but | should expect To receive thereirOm i'm
purtant assistance.
1 again ask YOU 10 scnd me, as soon You com
pabv with your other public duties, detailed state
mrnt Of the facts upon which Nour allegations nIc
based. Yours respectfully, EDWARD COOPER, Mayor.
N0y1y's OGice Fen. 4, 1879.