The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-06
CHIEF
BAKERS
letter.
Sent 10 Police Commission
in Response 10 Notification
Of Retirement.

The board OF police commissioners de-
cided last Friday upon a plan for the re-
organization of the police department.
The health of Chief Baker has not
been good. Last spring ne was critically
III with appendicitis and after that there
were organic troubles which necessitated
a long absence from the office, during
which interium the duties ordinarily de-
veloping upon the chief were intelligently
and faithfully performed by Deputy CHIEF
Egan.
Considering the many changes contem-
plated it was decided 10 retire Chief
Baker that a younger and physically
stronger man might assume the respon-
sibilities which the new departure would
entail
Accordingly the chief was notified OF
the intentions OF the board the follow
ing being the correspondence which pass
ed between them:
Providence. March 3, 1902.
Reuben r. Baker Esq,
Chief of Police.
Sir: At a meeting of the board or police
commissioners held last Friday, the re-
organization OF the police department. was
discussed. IL was the opinion of the board
that certain changes be made TO place
the force upon military basis and In a
conversation held previous TO this time
with the police surgeon. the question or
your physical condition seemed 10 call for
careful consideration, In view or the
| strain that would necessarily be placed
| upon the head of the department by the
| changes contemplated.
| The members of the board have, from
| the first, had the utmost confidence in
! YOUR integrity, and feel that the affairs
| OF the department have been honestly
/ and intelligently administered by you.
| After careful deliberaton the hoard felt
| that q years OF active and faithful SER
| vice in the employ of the police depart
ment has entitled you to a place upon the
pension roll that the evening OF your lire
| my be spent i'm ease. The rules governing
1 the distribution OF a pension provides Tor
a compensation amounting to 40 per cent
OF the pay of the officer retired at the
| time OF retirement, which VIII De ailoWeo
| to YOU Respectfully
| For the BOARD Of Police Commissioners,
FRANK +. oLNEY, Chairman
To the BOARD OF Police Commissioners:
| Gentlemen-The official notice received
| from YOU on the 4th inst. notifying me
| OF my retirement from the onice or chlei
| of police to take effect on the sth ms l.,
| catised "A feeling OF regret TO realize tnal
| am so soon to sever my connectlons
with a department with whicn nav
twenty-seven years, nearly half my Ire.
NV daily business associations WIZ
your honorable body have CONVINCED His
|
none other than a strictly honorable one
and IL Is your intention TO administer ln'
affairs of this department in a strlcuS
honorable and impartial manner. =,
| | realize from your expressions that y
was with extreme regret that your vHl
| cial body required you 10 pursue such
| course and | also realize that under eN
| listing conditions that there was no othel
honorable course that you could pursue
No one can realize better than myselt my
| nhvsical condition, and i am wei aWaf'
| thnf | am unable TO endure any hardsml
| or extreme manual labor and fully reai
| ize that the steps YOU have taken VII
! evidentiy result 10 my personal bencnt.
The complimentary expressions In YOU
letter OF notification are extremely grau
| flying To me. - A.. ~,
| press my sincere thanks for the courteou
| and considerate treatment that u nay
] received from YOU since YOU assumed tn
| control of this department ana also iron
your kind consideration I'm providinE
liberal compensation for my beneht ai'e
retirement. = -,
/ assure YOU that I'm severing my con
| nections with this department DO =
with the utmost regards for the presen
| board OF polce commissioners, ana shsl
| consider them as body and also indi
| yidually as among my warmest and mos
| earnest friends. Your obedient servant,
REUBEN r. BAKER.
Chief OF Police.