The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-02
MORE POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMPLICATIONS.

On the 18th ult the city council
passed the following ordinance, pro-
viding:
That on and after the first day of
January, 1898, the Office of chief of po-
lice of Salt Lake City is hereby abol-
iShed. and upon said date the police
and fire departments of said city shall
consist of the number of officers, men
and employees now upon the rolls OF
said departments respectively, with the
exception of said chief of police; and on
and after said first day of January,
1883, said officers and men shall have
and exercise all the powers and au-
thority now conferred by law and or
hcers in Salt Lake City. This ordinance
shall take effect at midnight on the
3lst day Of December, 1897.
This ordinance was approved by
Mayor Glendinning on the 10th ult.,
recorder q day or so later. The object
of the ordinance was to abolish the
Office of chief of police, and when his
honor approved it, it was with the I'M
derstanding that it did abolish it, else
why did he approve it, for he was ia
miliar with the intention of the author
of the ordinance, and of those who
voted for it. On Friday last (the last
day of the Year, Mayor Glendinning
addressed the following to the police
department:
Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 81, 1897.
To the Police Department of Salt Lake
City:
Gentlemen-You are probably aware
I'd of nd fro
missioners of this city expires by linn
itation of law at II o'clock tonight, and
that at the same time (midnighD the
police and fire departments come under
the immediate direction and super
vision of the mayor. by virtue of his
position as chief executive.
That there may be no misunderstand-
ing among you as to who shall be en-
titled to command the police force
until otherwise provided by proper au-
thority, 1 hereby appoint Sergeant Matt
Rhodes to the position of acting chief
of said department, with full power
and authority to exercise all the func-
tons of said office as provided by law.
The subordinate officers and men of
said department will obey and respect
him accordingly. Respectfully,
JAMES GLENDINNING, Mayor
Two important questions present
themselves:
If the ordinance passed by the city
council on December Il, 1897, and which
was approved by the mayor a couple
Of days later, abolished the Office of
chief Of police, where does his honor
get authority to appoint Sergeant Matt
Rhodes to the position of acting chief
of the police department?
If the said ordinance did not abolish
the Office of chief OF police, why did his
honor approve it, for it left the depart
ment precisely as it was before the
ordinance was introduced and passed?
1t seems that the city is bound to
have a police muddle. no matter what
else it may have. Ex-Chief Pratt is
advised that he holds over, notwith-
the repeal of the law creating
the office of chief of police, and he will
40 doubt make a demand for the office,
and, if refused, will undertake to en-
force it in the courts. That means a
law suit and more expense for the tax
payers. Sergeant Rhodes will no doubt
make a fight for the head of the police
by virtue of his present
position and Mayor Glendinning's ap-
If Mayor Clark shall nom
mate as head of the police department
someone who has been in no way in
volved in the quarrels of the depart
ment, it is quite probable that he also
viii run up against a law suit.
The people are sick and tired of po-
lice department quarrels, and it is the
5l1fv of the now Administered ion tO rid
the people of them, if possible, even if
it shall be Necessary to have an abso-
Iutely new force all around.