New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19
POWERS or THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
ACTING CORPORATION COUNSEL DEAN
HOLDS THAT HE Is TO ASSIGN Off.
GERS To DUTY-THE DISAGREE
MENT ON PROMOTIONS


MENT ON PROMOTIONS
The disagreement in the Police Board the
promotion Of Captains Brooks and McCullagh. act
ing inspectors. to inspectorshps has not yet been
se;ted As the matter stands. Commissioners
Roosevelt. Andrews and Grant are anxious pro.
mote them but Mr. Parker is not. Chief Conlin viii
recommend their promotion. not from personal
reasons, but because he believes the Commissioners
should settle their differences. 1t is possible
that while the breach exists their promotion
both Captain Brooks and Captain McCullagh may
be romanded back 10 precinct duty
Commissioner Andrews yesterday denied certain
printed statements concerning the situation in the
Board. and said 1T is not true that we have asked
the Chief 10 ndorse the two acting inspectors
never would ask subordinate to take any special
line OF conduct TO indorse a candidate for pro-
motion. The statement that Commissioner Parker
had convinced the other members Of the Board that
there were good reasons for Withholding his APP
prevail OF Brooks and McCulagh is also untrue. No
reasons have ever been given why they should not
be promoted The object OF the resolution passed by
the Board the other day is TO find out II there
any reasons why they should be confirmed. II
they are not eficien; | want TO know IL. and have
them sent back 10 precinct duty. IL they are mt TO
be inspectors | want TO know It. as well as the rea-
son for not promoting them. The statement that Il
has been now decided not to promote the acting In.
spectors is untrue will vote for their promotion
promoted"
Acting CORPORATION Counsel David J. Dean yes
terday advised the Police Board that the right to
assign all officers duty lies with the Chief OF
Police and not with the Board At the time
he quoted from Justice Andrews's decision that
there is such rank grade in the department
tablished by law that of roundsman."
Mr.. Deans letter of advice was in answer to this
resolution adopted by the Police Board on March II:
Resolved. That the opinion of the Corporation
|. Whether the power to assign patrolmen TO
duty roundsmen. thereby giving TO them higher
grade more important duties and increased pay. Is
vested in the Chief of Police the Board OF Police.
>. Whether the selection and assignment to
duty OF a sergeant OF police acting captain.
a captain as an acting Inspector with view OF
testing their fitness for promotion and rating them
in a competitive examination therefor Is within tho
power of the Board of Police.
g. Whether an incident TO the power OF
assigning officers TO duty or otherwise the EheI OF
boundaries of precincts inspection DISTRICTS which
have been established by the Board OF Police
To the first question Mr.. Dean replied; The pro-
visions OF the law quoted are clear ana give 10 tho
Chief OF Police the power to assign patromen TO
duty as roundsmen."
The assignment OF sergeants as acting captains
and captains acting inspectors 10 test their
fitness for promotion Mr.. Dean holds Is also within
the power OF the Chief of'Police.
To the third question he says:
.orb,s can be answered without attempting to
mass upon the question of the relative powers OF
the Board and of the Chief OF Police, In relation to
cause under the power of assignment the Chief can
assign officers to duty without regard to the boun-
dares Of the precincts or inspection districts which
have been established by the Board OF Police"