The times., 1899-03-23
DISMISSALS FROM
THE POLICE FORCE
]. M. Copeland's Long List of
Offences.
Private Riley Given One More
Chance to Behave Himself.
Better Discipline to he Maintained
Which VIII Produce the Much
Needed Reform.

Several cases of policemen and fremen
Board for neglect of duty were passed
upon by the District Commissioners yes
terday afternoon. The officers involved
are ]. NJ Copeland, in whose case the
Commissioners approved the recommenda-
tion of Major Sylvester that he be re-
moved; Joseph V. Riley, who was fined
$40 for drinking, and Firemen Dewitt
Smith and J. II. Davidson, jr., who were
each fined So for engaging in an affray
in the dormitory of No. 6 engine house.
Copeland was charged with absence from
reserve duty and failure to patrol his
beat. He has frequently appeared before
the Police Trial Officer and has always
been dealt with very leniently in view of
want of conclusive evidence to controvert
his own statements. He has been warned
frequently and in the case of his last
negligence was told that another offence,
if proved, would result in removal from
the force.
Copeland has been a very active police
man, and has always shown a disposition
to make amends for mistakes. Major Syl-
vester regrets that he is compelled to lose
SO good a man. but he thinks. on the other
hand, that there is no other way to en-
lOICt ulSCIpllue. ludl Tue lOfCe 10 muCu
better off without the services of men who
cannot give their full and strict attention
to duty. Copeland is from the congress
sional district Of Representative Seth
Brown, of Ohio, who requested the Com
missioners TO permit the policeman to have
every opportunity to make a defence
against the charges preferred.
He was appointed May s. 1896 In Oc-
tober Of the same year he was tried for
neglect of duty, found guilty, and fined So.
The specifications were failure to patrol
his beat March 10, 1885, Copeland was
again tried for failure to be on his reliev-
ing post while on duty. but the charges
were dismissed. August 15 1898, Cope
land was tried for neglect of duty and in
toxicatiOn. He was found guilty, but was
given the benefit of the doubt and warned
that one point against his promotion had
been recorded.
February 27 last Copeland vas tried for
failure to report to the station from tie
patrol signal box at 4 O'Clock in the morn
ing, and failure to perform police duty for
a period of one hour and twenty m nutes,
and he was found guilty and fined $40.
The last charge against Copeland. pre-
ferred against him by Sergeant Daley
March 18, 1893, was absence from reserve
duty for a period Of five hours, failure to
patrol beat and entry into premises at 1ll2
Seventh Street at $50 o'clock in the morn
ing. where he sat on a chair while on duty.
Copeland, when called upon to MAKE a
statement, said that he went home viii e
on duty, and finding his baby very sick with
Group and fever, remained at home and as
sisted his wife in caring for the baby. Il
did not send word to the station" he said,
because / thought l could make it all
right | did not think there would be any
thing said about il. So far as entering the
premises is concerned, 1t was raining, and
| stepped into the hallway. / have no ex-
cuse to make for sitting down, except that
| stopped for minute to see if the rain
would not slack up before ! started to the
station again.
Among the papers IN the case is MEM
orandum stating that Hon. John r. Nc
Lean made strong plea for the retention
of Copeland. In his recommendation Major
Sylvester says: Private Copeland was
dealt with very leniently in the past. In
my judgment, Private Copeland is deserv-
ing of no further consideration and SHOULD
be removed from the force" These rec
concentrations were approved by the Com
missioners.
Policeman Riley was charged with enter
ing the premises of Mrs. H. NJ Sweeney,
located at 1899 First Street, and while
there drinking intoxicating liquor. Ri ey
acknowledged that he took a drink before
he left home 10 go on duty on January 20,
but denied that he drank anything after
ward ON the same morning. Sergeant
Daley. who entered the charge against ths
policeman, ayerred that he had suspected
Riley for some time, and that on the occa-
sion in question he observed Riley pass a
glass TO the counter in Mrs. Sweeney
place. He smelied the glass and ascertained
that it contained whisky, and also found &
| half filled bottle of whisky near the g ass
Sergeant Daley stated to Major Sylvester
that Riley had acknowledged the viola
| tion, and had pleaded with him that the
matter he overlooked.
There is no question" says the fina
| Recommendation of Major Sylvester, tina
! Riley was frequent visitor to Mrs
Sweeneys, who is known to have violat &c
the law. When the case came on to {
hearing Private Riley denied that he hat
| admitted the violation to Sergeant Daley
and produced Mrs. Sweeney to show tha
| he had called at her place TO purchase TO
! bacco.
Mr. ]. f. Hagan, sc Pierce Street, in tn,
presence of Inspector Pearson, Sergean
Daley, Private Riley, and myself. wheI
called upon, openly and clearly accused
| Riley of being not only frequent, but a
| times u prolonged visitor at the Sweene!
place.
Private Riley is guilty of failure to per
| form duty at the time in question; h
drank just before going on duty, and ev
\ IDENTIFY while on duty. | accept Sergean
Daley's statement as to Rilsy's admis
sons. but to guard against any possibe in
| Justice am willing to recommend that Ri
| ley he fined so and be reduced one poln
in the line of promotion; and that he b.
| informed that II found guilty of any short
! coming In the future he will be removed
| from the force
The Commissioners have approved th
recommendation
Municipal HreVities.
third-class steam engineers license