The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-31
POLICE COMMISSION DECIDES
AGAINST CAPTAIN PARKER
Verdict Rendered Late This Afternoon Sus-
tains Chief Matthews and Reduces
Ex-Captain Parker to the Ranks

Tn charges against Capt Parker, three
I'm number relate 10 violations OF the
rules and regulations OF the department
The first alleges that he was absent from
the city on July and IL without per-
mission as required by the rules The
second, that he violated section OF rule
II by continually manifesting disrespect
90 q superior officer and third charge
3s that he was guilty OF neglecting 10
keep records concerning the arrests mace
by the detective bureau
In order 10 properly maintain the sf-
Efficiency OF the department II is necessary
that there should be a rigid adherence
to all the regulations adopted for the
kgovernment OF the police force.
This regulation, which compels respect
and obedience from subordinates 70 su-
most important in the entire list OF gov
forced there can be no discipline. and
sutsopty tns Of aSSeroT Ta oeeTs there
be neither efficiency, nor tnat proper at
tention 20 duty yhich the board Of r-olice
commissioners In it's duty 20 Jhe citizens
proposes to compel In every branch OF the
police service
In regard to the complaint which
charges the captain OF detectives with
nsglecting 10 keep certain records, II was
shown that there was an apparent misun-
derstanding In regard 10 the keeping or
Seau. The board Therefore. does not re-
gard this charge as being very serious In
character.
The complaint of violation OF Rule H.
Section ], paragraph 2, OF continued dis
respect of a superior officer, is by far
them ost serious OF all the charges which
have been brought against Capt. Parker.
and would be equally as serious II made
against the humblest ana youngest mem
bers of the department. In substantia-
xxle
duced whose unwilling presence was
compelled by subpoena and their state
mants uncontradicted save by the simple
statement OF the officer on triad. tended
20 show that the captain of detectives
had spoken dsrespectfully, profanely and
obscenely not only OF the chief OF po-
lice but also OF one OF the heutenants or
the department, and by inference OF the
board OF police commissioners. To over
look or 10 oondone an offence OF this ma
ture, would not only tend 10 the abso-
lutte Generalization OF the entire police
department, but 10 the loss OF respect
on thepartofcertainsu shrdlushrdlushrdl
on the part of certain superior officers
which the commissioners believe that the
public. whose servants they are, would
very properly severely condemn.
One OF the witnesses, James r. Day.
testified that at a casual meeting with
Captain Parker the latter stated that the
"Chief OF police didn't know enough TO
hitch up a horse: that the department
was being run upside down and that
only men who were unable 10 get any
oths, kind OF employment were being
put on the force" This last statement
can hardly ne interpreted In any other
way than meaning that in the expressed
opinion Of Capt Parker. the board Of
police commissioners WAS only not secur-
ing the best men obtainable for the ser
49, 49, 10 al iHor t.Ixv los
IN rs duty by clothing with authority as
guar dians Of the lives and property OF our
citizens men kho were totally UNIT 10
follow the usual avocatIons OF life. Ac-
jeord.ng 10 further testimony OF Mr.. Day,
Capt Parker stated that the police force
as IT was today was pretty rotten. This
likewise can be construed In no other
way except as a reflection upon the
board OF police commissioners, who are
Capt. Parker's superiors I'm the depart
kmsnt
Former Lieutenant Thomas ID. Tophff
said that Capt. Parker had conversed
with him, and made remarks, which he
.oonsidered detrimental 20 the mana9
lment of the police department
In regard 10 the charges OF being ab-
3ent from the city on July ana IA the
board finds that such absence was. In dl-
reot violation Of the rules and regulauons
as framed by this commission. There
are strong mitigating circumstances m
connection wi... this, however. and for
that reason the board is not disposed 20
regard the charges as having very great
weight. Capt Parker( according TO the
tsstimony. had apparently ignored this
rule for several years. or az one time had
obtained from n mayor and former CHIEF
of police standing permission TO leave the
.cty upon the regular meeting days OF a
summer club, OF which he IL n member.
waving in lieu OF such privilege the usual
% days turlough allowed to members OF
In passing THIS complaint over lightly.
however. partly because OF n past sent
offieial recognition OF the violation OF
this rule and partly because OF the long
years OF service OF Capt Parker. the
board desires 20 impress upon members
OF the department. superior officers and
an others. that the rules and regulations
adopted are 20 obeyed and that infringe
ment Of this rule or OF any other will
hereafter not be overlooked, no matte
what the length of service or the record
OF the offending officer may be
George ". Taft. an extremely unwiling
witness, testified that Capt Parker ha,
beer in his saloon playing cards ant
while engaged IN this game had state,
that he would Just as soon have n wsRh
woman IN charge OF a police precinct n
- have Lieut.. Omen. and that ne chic
ef police was a consImptive so,s--G-D
The answer OF Capt Parker N any an,
end ali OF the charges, individually an,
collectively. was e simple denial that n
had conversed with these men IN IN
manner testified TO hy them. ~ wa
shown. however. that the witnesses ha
always been on friendly terms with Cap
Parker and that they came before ~
board with great reluctance ana only al
Ger being summoned. In fact. one wit
ness declared that he woub not sRs~e
fhe summons OF the board until ne wa
.eonvfnced that the board had fui lpows
lno compel his attendance.
Entirely outside of the atrocious char
actsr of some Of the language used b
capt Parker. the feeling manifested n
fThem befrnys n condition which IN IN
bopfnion 81 the board % police commits
iGonerr wss detrimental 20 the disciplin