The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-02
THE new CHIEF OF POLICE.
John B. Rodgers Duly Installed il Us
Office.
Ex-Chief Drew Says He win Contest
The Election of New Force
New Police DetaiI-Etc.

Inc city has Chief of Police. and his
name is John i. Rodgers. Despite at
tempts in some quarters to worlx mn a
sehsa'ioii over the matter of Mr.. Rodgers
assuming the duties OF the Office to which
lie was elected, there was nothing of an
exciting nature attending his induction
into office.
~ Is true w. f. Drew, the ex-Chief, did
Is ne had announced he would do, refuse
!" vacate the office without protest He
a'llI claimed that he was Chief of Police,
On me assumed ground that there was or
H1lSht be- some flaw in Mr.. Rodgers citi-
Aehshlp. This protest did not, however,
amount to much, and Police Commission
ers Comstock and Cravens, after listening
70 brief statements by Drew, Charles T.
Jones (his counsel, and r. T. Devlin,
counsel for Rodgers, promptly admitted
the latter to their councils and declared
him TO be the Chief of Police-so far as
tley were capable of deter mining.
There was large crowd Of people in
and about the police station at an carly
hour IN the morning. Some were ''pull-
ing, Tor their own election as members
o. tue police force, and most OF the others
we're there chiefly out of curiosity and in
Inc nope that something might happen"
something did happen, as above stated,
put That was simply in the natural order
Of things.
Ex-Chief Drew was down bright and
early, ana had good chance for once, to
ma out what the city jail smelled like at
about sunrise. 1t was nearly 9 O'Clock
when Mayor Comstock and Police Judge
ravens put in an appearance, and Chief
dodgers came along soon after. When
the Police Commissioners (Comstock and
CraYenS) took their seats the Mayor said:
This is a meeting of the Board of Police
commissioners 10 reorganiZe the board
and to select police force to serve for
one year. Mr.. Rodgers. you were elected
TO the office Of Chief of Police Have
you the proper papers to present to the
board?"
Counselor Devlin then handed to the
Mayor Rodgers certificate OF election. a
certified copy Of his oath OF Office, and
his official bond.
DREw's PROTEST.
Addressing the Commissioners. Drew
said: II still insist that l am Chief of
Police of Sacramento, and that as such. /
am entitled to sit with you as a member
OF this board. / want it understood that
am not relinquishing my right to the
office of Chief of Police. l still claim to
be Chief"
Mr.. Jones said: "Drew claims that
there was no election for Chief OF Police
al the last city election, end, by virtue of
the Police Act, under which this board
holds its power, he holds the office for two
years from the date OF his election, and
until his successor is elected and quail
lied. He claims that Rodgers was not
eligible at the time of the election, and
that, therefore, he is not entitled to the
ONCE. That is a question of law. We
are not here to use force, but we wish it
understood that he does not relinqush his
Claim of right to the office"
QUESTION FOR THE COURTS.
Mr.. Devlin told the board that all it
could do was to recognize Rodgers as
Chief. The question on which Drew's
protest was based was, he said, matter
OF law for the courts to determine.
Commissioner Cravens took this view
of the matter. "All we can do'' he said,
SIS 10 recognize the right of Rodgers to a
seat on the board, and the only proceed
ing TO test his eligibility is by QltO lCa1-
q'nRtO in the proper tribunal. | move
that Rodgers be admitted to a seat in this
board.'
RODGERS IN AUTHORITY.
Then, on motion of Cravens, Rodgers
was admitted to seat with the other
Commissioners.
A motion was also carried, instructinp
all the officers TO obey the orders of Chief
Rodgers.
Ex-Chief Drew then privately in
formed his successor that he Wouid
turn over the keys, but it would be under
protest.
DREw'S CONTEST.
Mr.. Jones states that he will at once
begin suit in the Superior Court to Gust
Rodgers, on the ground that he is not
citizen, and therefore ineligible to hold
the office. For this Rodgers claims to be
fully nreDared.