Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-04
NEE TING OF THE POLICE BOARD.

inss were conducted behind closed
/ doors.
!! The secretary read Chief Webster
report of the operations of the police
force since the last meeting of the com.
missioners. Mention was made in the
report of the examination ofthe charges
against officers Wilkinson and Proctor
for failure to respond to Lieutenant
Smiths whistle in the night time sew.
eral weeks ago and their exoneration
| by the mayor from the charge also
the action of the mayor in suspending
Lieutenant Smith for fifteen days for
alleged dereiciion of duty on the night
of the Goth instant.
Mr.. Price. commissioner from the
second ward, asked the mayor a num-
Der of questions regarding the suspen-
sion of the lieutenant. He said the
whole affair looked to him as put-up
| job, and was, he thought, the outcome of
prejudice. He said there was too much
importance given to tale-bearing Of
6cers, who, he assumed, were ever
ready to circulate evil reports against
those with whom they were associated.
Mr.. Price said under the former admin
istration it had been charged that
the mayor manifested too much
Difference to the Chief OF Police. The
same reflection could be made now
when ready ears took in what some
officious and meddlesome officers car
ried to the executive.
Mayor Simpson Indignantly denied
the imputation that he allowed any one
to influence him in his actions.
Mr.. Price asked upon whose author
ity Officers Knight and Belts were
kept on one square two hours in the
night time "spotting" the lieutenant,
while the remainder of the Second ward
was left unguarded.
The mayor replied by saying he as
sumed the responsibility. He had Wis
tied the station house, was unable to
find the lieutenant and started on
personal search for him. He subse-
quently detailed the officers to ascer-
tain his whereabouts.
Mr.. Price then referred to the case of
the two officers Lieutenant Smith was
unable to find on their beats in the
night time; also to the two the lieuten-
ant found asleep previously.
The mayor said the latter had gotten
of very easily considering the gravity
of their offense.
Mr.. Price then called attention to the
fact that when two officers were sus-
pended by the gentleman who previ-
ously filled the position of mayor
for characterization and contempt
the board was anxious and ready to re-
view his action aud an embroglio was
precipitated which had cost the city sew
eral hundred dollars. No such dispo-
sition was manifest in this case.
The Mayor said that the cases under
discussion were not analogous. In
oee instance, that of Sergeant Smith
and Officer Ferguson, the men insisted
upon going before the commissioners,
but the previous Mayor had declined
to grant their request on the other
hand he, the Mayor, had invited Lieut..
Smith to take his case before the COM
missioners, but the lieutenant had de-
clined to do so, though he still had the
right to appeal his case.
Some fthe commissioners maintained
that the gentleman in the Mayors chair
at the time brought on all the trou bic
by denying the right Of the board to re-
view his action and set aside his YER
dict.
Mayor Simpson said 80 far as the
-everal hundred dollars were concern
ed, since his incumbeucy he had saved
the city more than that.
The colloquy continued Tor short
while longer, and the report OF the
chief and the action of the Mayor was
adopted. The Mayor informed Mr.;
Price that the lieutanent could appeal
his case to the beard.
1t was agreed by the other commits
| sioners that the board had no power 10
suspend; that the only action they could
take would be dismissal.
The mayer subsequently suggested
certain changes pertaining 10 the rou
| tine of the police work. The rules
were changed, directing that the officer
in charge of the men and station at
night shall make at least two rounds Of
lspeciion during the night, and when
not on such rounds he shall remain at
the station When such officer leaves
the station he shall give the station
master the route he proposes to travel,
30 that he can be called at any time
should any matters require his immedi
ate attention at the station. Power WAS
conferred upon the mayor by the board
to change the squads oftener than BIZ
monthly should circumstances, in his
discretion, demand such a change.
The board adjourned about nine
o'clock.