Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-01
POLICE COMMISSIONERS MEET.

The Charges Against Supernumerary
 Lawler-Lieutenant Root Loses Four
 Days Time-An Amendment to the
 Police Rules.
 Officer Michael Lawler appeared before the police commissioners last night ac- cording to order issued two months ago at the time of the officers trial for disorderly conduct After short dissertation by his honor on the duties of the supernumerary policemen to the effect that such an officer was to always keep himself i'll condition to respond to call of duty, etc, Commls- sioner Martin wanted the officer repri. manded, claiming that he disgraced the force. etc. Commissioners Early and Riley differed from Commissioner Martin, and Mayor Boughton sad that the officer was ill good standing, no record appearing to the contrary.
 Commissioner Riley then said he wanted the matter settled as to whether the officer was in good standing, as he had heard that Chief Egan had disqualified the officer in the street. Chief Egan said that committee from the Hibernlan picnic on July and asked for three super numeraries, and among others Llwler was mentioned. The chief then said that Law Ter was not doing, duty just then. The chief said he had not been informed off cially of the disposition of the case, which he said was the clerks duty to do so. The clerk said it was not.
 Mayor Boughton said that when man was on the force and there was no record against him he should be treated with equal consideration with the others. l The clerk was instructed to ask for the resignation of Supernumerary Leavenworth, who is engaged at present in travelling business and spends but lit tie time ill Waterbury.
 | Lieutenant Root appeared to make a statement regarding the four days lost by him. He said Sergeant Bannon had been | sick for several weeks at the house. On his being able to get out the chief thought he would be able to do office duty and he requested the lieutenant to do serYeant'< | duty on the street until the sergeant wa> | able to go out. The lieutenant did ser geant duty for several days, but theI
 found the work was too hard. There wal
 d great deal of walking to do and his leg, | gave out. He informed the chief that ht
 was unable to do the duty, but could dc
 duty in the office. The chief then tolC
 him that he would have no further duty
 for him to do until Monday. He migh
 have some special duty to do. The lieu
 tenant kept himself in readiness to do an,
 duty and therefore considered himself en titled to pay.
 Chief Egan explained that the lieutenan
 told him, after being on sergeant's duty fo
 q few nights that his legs were giving out l He told him to take it easy. Soon afte
 the chief fell sick and MT Root performet
 chiefs duty, and on the chiefs return Wen
 on sergeant's duty again. Mir Root spok
 about the matter again a few nights after
 wards, and finally informed him that h
 was unable to do duty. The chief the
 said he would have no further use for hiI
 until Monday night. Mir Root asked if h
 should consider himself suspended an the chief answered no. The lieutenan
 questioned most strenuously the chief
 authoyity to order him on street duty and remarked that it was a put up job.
 MT Root explained to the board that h thought that when the lieutenant and SCI geant were unable to do duty, he shoul be given the preference. He was willin , to do sergeant duty if he was able Mayor Boughton suggested that the rule l governing the duties of the heutenaI ? and sergeant be read and als the vote instructing the chic : to so alternate the duties of the two officer 5 whenever it seemed we'll. His honor the 2 recommended the repeal of the latter vot s saying he did not believe in interchangin the officers except by the board. Captai :; Martin said the vote was passed in goo faith. It did not degrade the officer to , changed. The chief himself was instruc ed to patrol the city once in a while nigl times. Concerning the pay roll he thougl i Lieutenant Root had acted very wrong an f showed a spirit of insubordination. + l sympathized with Mir Root in his ailmen s but he did not think he ought to be pait considering the fact that there was duty , do. Commissioner Goodrich agreed wit e Commissioner Martin. Commissioner Fla
 ly thought that Mir Root acted rightly
 both officers were sick he thought tl
 lieutenant should have his place in the O
 flee in preference. He thought the dete r tive could do the sergeants duty and tl - sergeant do detective duty, which didn
 amount to much. Commissioner Mart n said that the board issued orders to u t chief. He was the superior officer of u |, force and his orders must be obeyed. r the army an order is given an officer, l |; must obey the order, but he has redress e he thinks he is aggrieved. The order mu t be obeyed, however. Commissioner Ear
 announced that he had point; the le l. tenant is not to assist the sergeant, but
 is to assist the chief Commissioner Goo y rich couldn't see why the chief, as superi officer, could not order the lieutenant whe ' he liked. He could not degrade him <, office. The lieutenant while doing se IL geant duty had charge of the force Il T. same as if in the office. Commission ee e Martin moved the approval of the pay rc . with the exception of the four days lost Lieutenant Root, on the ground that a
 sence with or without leave forfeits pa
 Commissioner Early amended to pay u full time, as the chief told him he had l s other duty for him; he was not allowed O do his own duty. No one seconded u amendment, SO Commissioner Martins m
 tion denying the four days pay was call, T, and passed.
 y An amendment to section GA of the D r. lice rules concerning the fning and su 'e pension of officers for violation of the rul 1t was passed.