Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-04-15
AIRXANDRA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
orv,cpss REsres.-polics officers

OFFICERS RESIGN. Police Othcers
Wilkinson and Lvles, who, In Febru-
ary last, we're tried by the Mayor on
the charge that they had attacked, u,
Lieut.. Smith 10 the station house and
were suspended for 80 dsys and whose
case to was have been reopeped on We'd
Desdsy night next, have rendered their
re,ignstio They say they kuow that
the object OF the Police Commissioners
10 reopenipg their case is turn them of
the force 80 they might jus, as we'll
resign. Today they sent tie following
to Mayor Simpson:
Alsxandris, Va, April 10, 1901.
Hon. Mayor George l.. Simpson:
Sir We the undersigned members
of the police force tender our resIgns-
ton as policemen aud ask that it be &C.
cepted right away. We appreci to your
kindness towards us and all other ofii-
cers OF the force, and those who do not
appreciate it are very uDariieful, fjr
before you became Mayor the men
were treated more Ike slaves than tree
white men. and the cursing OF men by
the officers aud The vulgar abuse OF
good CT Z9Ds by the officers has been
stopped so far as you are concerned.
We have dependent families to snppor',
but we would suffer aud nave them sui.
fer rather than to give such body oil
men like the pre- ept Police Commit
sioners a chance to disgrace up, ss we
know their intention is 10 remove us
from the f,rce. II they were gentlemen
like Mr.. Lindsey and MIR. Tacktts The
right of tho bumblest would be pro.
tected. We know bow THY, treated
YOU ybou you .tOfu tnern tnAt inc rules
required officers to report the coDduc'
OF the men to the mayor, and that only
substsntisted charges should be report
ed to them. Thsy treated your safe
ment with contempt, and went on 10
hear charges against an officer without
you ever being told about II. And yet
they talk about respecting superior
officer, and then teach officers to be
disiespeciful 10 the Mayor. Last meet
ing, after treating you with disYespect,
they said only substan,iated charges
should be reported by the chief, while
six or eight months ago they said by
their actions exactly the opposite. Then
again one OF them, we hear, told the
Mayor he did not think he
bad the right to vote on the board ex-
cept on lie, and sill some men think
it strange that you don't 60 to the
10 Getting to be insulted. Add then when
you told them about Lieut. Smith going
through the market cursipg the Mayor
Of the city, and when you made known
the fact that the law did not give oce
of the Com mlseioDers the right to he
Com missioner they punished on officer
because they said he bad no right to
make the matter known. That is, the
Commissioners broke law when the
officer by his oath was required to make
known all violations OF the law. When
Mr.. Lindsay and Mr.. Tsckett were
on the board o Commissioner knocked
down a gentleman on the street and
then said be would not appear 10 the
morning because be had to do bis work,
but you sent an officer after him and
had him put In the station house and
punished, ard be cursed the officer who
arrested him for doing such q thing,
out we guess If the present board had
been in power at that time the officer
would have been put of OF the force Tor
daring TO aires. Commissioners. Very
respectfully. VIM. ]. WILKINSON.
VIM. E. LYLEs.