The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-16
POLICEMEN PUNISHED.
Commissioners, Beginning With
the New Year, Will Show
No Lenieney to De-
linquents.

The Police Board met yesterday and
conducted a number of trials. Patrolman
Patrick Gordon, of the First precinct, was
charged with being thirteen minutes late
in reporting from his patrol box on De-
cember 6. He pleaded guilty and was
fined one days pay.
Inspector Lange charged Patrolman
Frank McMahon of the First precinct
with not properly patroling his post on
Exchange place. On October "a, the In
spector was on his way to New York when
he saw two boys skylarking near the
ferry. He looked for Mcmahon, but
couldn't find him. AT the Gregory street
station Inspector Lange found that Nc
Mahon had reported from his box at the
proper time. Mcmahon pleaded not
guilty. He said he went into Silver's drug
store 100 feet off of his post, to look at
directory for the purpose of Greeting two
women who had asked him flor informa-
ton. He declared that he was not OF his
post more than three minutes. McManon
produced several witnesses who testlled
to seeing him on his post about the time
the Inspector alleged he was looking ior
him. Mcmahon said the the Whole trouble
arose of his obeying an order of Captain
Farrier's, with which Inspector Lange
was displeased Commissioner West said
he could not believe that. The charge
was dismissed
pay for reporting at roll call fifteen min
uteS late.
Patrolman Lincoln Moulton was fined
one days pay for not properly patrolilng
guilty to being absent from his post for
thirty minutes. Patrolman Robert Pritch-
ard, of the First precinct, had to forfeit
three days pay for neglecting to report
from the patrol box. He pleaded guilty,
but said that he had opened the box and
had neglected to pull it as his attention
was attracted to something else.
For neglecting to wind his watch and IN
consequence falling to report on time
Patrolman Benjamin Warren, OF the
Third precinct, was fined one days pay;
Commissioner West told him that he had
better keep his watch wound up or he
would run down as well as his timep1eee.
Patrolman William Buckbee, of the
Fourth precinct, was up on three charges.
The first was that he had reported at the
signal box one hour late. The other two
charges were that he had spent two hours,
House No g. He pleaded guilty. His ex-
cuse for not pulling the box was that he
was engaged in reading the new police
manual and forgot to report. Commits
sioner Feeney asked him if he finished
reading it at that time. He replied that
he did not Commissioner West then asked
him if he went into the engine house to
finish the reading. Buckbee did. not
answer. Commissioner West declared
that it must have taken him five hours
to read the manual. Buckbee was fined
three Gays pay
Pafrolman Reineke was fined three
days pay for forgetting to pull the signal
box The clsirge of conduct unbecoming
an officer which was preferred against
Patrolman John Whalen and which was
laid over several trials days because of
the non-appearance of witnesses was dis
missed In announcing the penalties
President Abernethy said to Patrolman
Bucl1bee that it was the duty of
patrolman to be at all time when on duty
upon his post for the protection of
citizens and property, and that his neglect
of duty so soon after his promotion to
the rank of patrolman showed that he
little appreciated the appointment. If he
came before the Board again on charges
he would certainly be dismissed from the
department.
This warning President Abernethy de-
clared would apply to all on trial, as in
future the Commissioner will not accept
forgetfulness as an excuse for failing to
report Beginning with the new year
strict observance of the rules will be re-
quired A resolution by President Aber-
nethy was adopted instructing Chief
Murphy to issue an order changing service
on regular day posts so that all police
men of like rank shall perform the same
patrol duty, excepting when detailed to
special duty by resolution of the Police
a,.d