Waterbury Democrat., 1902-04-23
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
Lieutenant Dodds Placed at the Heat
 of Detective Bureau.

it was never stirred before. Commits sioner Taylor presided in the absence
 of Mayor Kilduff. The full board was
 present. The meeting was held in the
 aldermen's chamber for the accommo- dation of those who had business at the meeting
 The first matters taken up were the charges against the several firemen for absence from duty. William Keenan, of Captain Dodd's company, was fined
 $2 and John J. Kelly like sum. The
 complaint was the same, so was the excuse. The charges against Special Policeman John Somerville, preferred by Louis Kirschbaum of 20 Grove street came next. Kirschbaum charged the officer with assaulting him in the fol lowing manner. On the evening of March 27 complainant was attending performance at Polls He was in the part of the theater known as''Nig- ger Heaven.'' Handbills were dis tributed during the intermission be tween the second and third act so that during the intermission between the third and fourth acts the gallery gods having nothing to do made paper balls of the bill and assailed each other with them. Peanut shells were also thrown. Some of them fell to the lower gallery and in this way complaint was made to the officer. He accordingly kept sharp lookout and cautioned Kirsch- baum to cease throwing. Kirschbaum denied he threw anything. The accu-. Sation was repeated. However, the officer took him one side, pushed him and told the ticket seller not to give him return check at the same time putting him aside. Up to that point the stories of the officer and the com plaint agree. KirSchbaum says that he was pushed with such force that he fell down eight stairs, and moreover was kicked and that in consequence he was laid up for three days. After the show he spoke to the officer about the matter and he was told to shut up or he would be arrested. KirSchbaum said he had two witnesses, but only one was present, Michael Blansfield, of 20 Poplar avenue. Blansfield knew practically nothing about the alleged assault. He did not see the officer either kick or push complainant, though it seems he led complainant to so believe. But he did hear the officer say something to complainant, but what it was he could not say, only that it implied violence. The nearest he could get to it was ''I will push your face in.' He did not see complainant throw papers. MT Kirschbaum, the father of the com plainant, told his story and then the officer was sworn. He said he merely pushed complainant, that he did not use unnecessary force, that he fell against a water pipe but did not fall down, at least he did not see him fall, and he was sure he saw him throw paper and peanut shells. After the show he changed his clothes and as he was coming down the stairs he ran against someone who told him 'they were going to lay for the cop.' There appeared to be great commotion on the outside. The officer went back, changed his clothes again and went down. A TOW was going on, he sent two men away and had to arrest the third for making a disturbance. He then saw I<irschbaum, or rather Kirschbaum saw him. He did not recognize him as the young man he ordered out of the gallery. They had some warm talk, winding up with the remark from the officer when he saw the other getting warm that he "had q time to talk with hi1n.' He posi- lively denied kicking him or using any undue force or violence. As the of ficer had none of his witnesses present the hearing was continued a week
 Applications from James D. Walsh and Edward Maloney, the latter the well known trolley conductor, for po- sitions on the special police force were filed. A petition from the Waterbury Athletic club, signed William Crowley of Hartford was tabled. On motion of Commissioner Beach the commis- sioners appeared to be heartily satis- 1 fled with the last exhibition given by this club. Officer John J. Bowling will have to appear before the next meet ing of the board to undergo an exami- nation for promotion.
 The business of reorganizing the police department was then taken up. with taking the petition of Detective Sergeant Cahey to be relieved from detective duty from the table. On Commissioner Laheys motion the request of the officer was granted. Then a detective bureau was established in jiffy. con- sisting of Lieutenant Dodds and Pa rolmen O'Gorman and Kennaugh. It was at first decided to make these ap- pointments temporarily, but q motion was made that Lieutenant Dodds. be appointed .permanentlyi' and the friends of O'Gorman and Kennaugh moved that their appointments be also permanent. But this was not done without a lot of discussion Commits sioner Taylor said that he had heard so very many complimentary things about Detective Cahey that he thought he ought to be consulted in the matter Perhaps he would like to help Dodds l It was at this point Dodds was ap- pointed head of the bureau of detec- tnyes. There was more discussion as to the conduct of the bureau and it's management and Commissioner Beach suggested that the head of the bureau ought to be asked about the situation. | He thought he would be the best l source of information on the matter. | the best judge of those who would be able to help him. AIr Beach knew that | the board could go ahead irrespective | of the officers and make any appoint ments, but thought it better to consult | Lieutenant Dodds. s'Why if they l don't want the work" said Commits | sioner Hardie, ''they can be removed, | their appointment is only temporary" Commissioner Beach: But NIr | DoddS is better able to judge than we