Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-31
CARD FROM OFFICER spINKs
Alexandria, Va, March 81. 1900
10 the Honorable Board of Police o.

Alexandria, Va, March 81. 1900
10 the Honorable Board of Police CO.
missioners of Alexandra:
dentlemen-l acknowledge receipt OF reso-
lotion adopted by your toaii at its last me-,
re, and l most respectfully protest sgains,
're un"arr.nted position assumed by ibrso
OF your members. 10 that said three memhar,
have, In violation Of my constitutional righ,.
taken upon themselves the power 10 rene
me from the police force of this cite m o..
sacrifice my manhood and my citizensbin
0y Withdrawing as a candidate for the ofico
OF City sergeant. herewith quote from tho
State constitution: '1'
| All citizens Of the State possess eossl
civil and political rights and public priyiIegs.
The declaration OF the political risbts AMI
privileges of the inhabitants Of this state Is
declared part OF the constitution. and SHAH
not be violated in any mstter whatev r."
read fartter from the constitution;
"All persons entitled 10 VOC shall b, eli0i.
Die to any Office within he gilt of the pSo.
ple." f>'
Now, gentlemen, you wi | not m ,intain o. O
right to deny ma the privilege of voting; Z
not, you cannot destroy my right to bs can.
didaie for tfhce. The two rights of voting
| aud of being . can date srs one and insep,r'
able, The difficulty, believe land I most
| respectfully suggest j is that some OF y,ur
me mbers may argue upon the idea tbs Z
they employ MAE u do their work ,hey
can prescribe whstev, rules they please bpt
unfortunately for this position. membesof
the Police Board 20 not hire police Off or.
they simply act IS employees Of the city. II
is the Taxpayers Of our city who, through
Representatives in the & " Council, pIescri7 d
the number the pay and, last, the Immunity
from punishment, excep. for misconduct IN
office OF policemen. The powers OF the Pc
lice Bosri are exceedingly limited. 60 FIR As
prescribed privileges sre concerned, and tie
right OF police board to uske rules oes NOT
carry with it sny power TO limit lerm of
Office, fix number Of nen or adjust salaries
Therefore would il not be a stretch Of au
thOrity for body with such limited pow
FRS to take uVon it's, IL the right 10 stt
aside constitutional provision? Police o.,
dcers have the same rights of cltiz .nshp s,
tho'e possessed by the members of the z, lico
Board. II / bsvs been guilty of misconduct
or II l have in anv manner negle' ted my On,
ties as police officer. you have the lndoab'.
cd right to punsh, but the right thin king.
fsir.plsy loving people OF Alexandra VII
never endorse the action OF men who inte..
pet the efforts of an humble citizen 10 ae
vance himself as being misconduct in otiice
justifyiLg removal. AS MISTER Of fact. gel
tlemcn, AUST treatment OF my case has been.
thoughtlessy, perhaps, ignored. peIusal
OF your resolution we'll establishes this fsct
1T Is moved that the Roard OF p, lice Comm's.
sioners. alter such investigation as they have
DEF med necessary, And it inexp dient ior
Officer F. g. Spinks to remain q member Of
tho police force OF the city. at the same time
being a caacidste for office" II yOn geut.e.
men have really made an inye tgstion.
which you have deemed Necessary, | soad
! ke to know when you made it, for certainly
never received notice to appear before ycu
and defend myself, and as tar minded men
you would hardly hsve had sn investigation
without having me present. An sccusei Jcl.
son should certainly have the right AID Il
has ever been seconded. to face biz accuscrs.
Have YOU given me that right, and have you
ever denied it to any other policeman? For
several weeks there were three csLdi istes IN
the field for the Office to which | SIN aspiring
and as matter OF couuc the greater the num-
Der OF candidates the better we're the chances 4
of the incumbent in tfice, and strange to say,
as long as this state of affairs existed there
was no complaint m sde to you, IS to right 20
be Candidate, but when one candidate with.
drew, which lett the contest between tho IN.
cumbent and myself, 1t was suddenly discoy-
cred that policeman rad either to give up
his living or his independence.
Very respectfully,
FRANK G. SPINKS, JR.