Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-22
Police Commissioners.

Police COMMISSIONER
The September meeting of the Board
of Police Commissioners was held last
night. Mayor Paff presided and all the
members of the board we're present.
r.ycrsl matters were discussed and the
preliminaries arranged for radical
change in the present working OF the
police force.
II was agreed that the charges recent
" made against Lieutenant Smith by
w. H. Travers of assault and interior
ence with his family affairs be referred to
the Mayor for investigation.
The Mayor submitted an opinion of
Corporation Attorney Boothe defining
the movers of the Police Board. The
opinion is substantially the same as
given by Judge James Keith OF the
Court of Appeals in 1897, when the IN
cumbent of the Mayors office at that
time took issue with the commissioners
concerning the powers of the latter ID
reviewing and reversing his action IN
suspending members of the police force.
The Judge was of the opinion that the
charter vested the commissioners win
this power. The latter can dismiss any
member of the force for cause, but the
noliceman whose services have been dis
pensed with, under the present laws,
can appeal to the Corporation Court.
The board has no power to suspend, the
Mayor only being authorized to take
such a step, while the board has the
right TO review his action and set aside
his Judgment should such action be
deemed necessary.
Mr.. Fisher offered the following reso-
luton: >.
nThere being some mis- Misunderstanding
between the Commonwealth Attorney
and Lieutenant Smith about the Burnett
case. and a resolution which | introduced
and was adopted requiring police officers
10 report happenings to their superior
officers. desire to known why MIR. Brent
was not given all the information he
desired, and that was in the pos
session of any of the officers when he
officially asked for the same. "
Mr.. Fisher said he was present in the
CORPORATION Court room when Mr.. Brent
made his observation concerning officers
appearing as witnesses for the defense IN
the Burnett case and his charge that he
had not been furnished with desired in
formation. Mr.. Brent was Lieutenant
Smiths superior officer, inasmuch as
the formeris Commonwealth's Attorney,
whose province it is to prosecute crlml-
mails. If the charges made were correct
some action should be taken If enron =
eous the officers should be vindicated::
MIR. Fisher said he did not understand
why Burnett was not arrested as soon as
che stolen whisky vas found in his pos
session.
No one at first seemed disposed to
second Mr.. Fishers resolution, some OF
the members of the board not regarding
the Commonwealth Attorney as
superior officer in the sense intended IN
the resolution adopted at previous
meeting. Mr.. Graham finally said he
wonld second the resolution in order to
see what would come out of it.
Mr. Lawler said Lieutenant Smith
had implied that he would request the
board to make an inquiry into the charge
preferred by Mr.. Brent.
After some interchange of opinion the
resolution Yves adopted.
Flavor Pafl asked if it was the sense
of the board that the operations OF the
nolice force should remain under the
control of The mayor. He said II such
were the case it was his intention to give
Chief Webster full authority aud to hold
him to strict account
Mr.. Fisher asked that the question
of leaving the force under the control OF
the AIayor be deferred until the next
meeting, but Mr.. Hill and Mr. Lawler
opposed any delay.
Mr.. Graham said he was heartily IN
accord with the Mayor and could see no
reason for wasting time. The Mayor S
suggestions we're agreed to.
Mayor Paff suggested several changes
in the working of the force. He said
that stationkeepers could have short
heats in the neighborhood of the station
house. He also thought that in the
future desk sergeant could be ap
pointed. a.
Chief Webster was called into me
room and given his instructions by th'
Mayor in the presence of the board. =.
After the meeting Chief Webster sale
that he would make number ofchange
in the beats and squads, but that thu
changes would not become effective un
ill the first of October.
1t was agreed that the regular meet
incs of the board I've held on the thir'
Wednesday in each month.
1t was generally understood that th
present rules governing the police fore
would he superseded at the next meeting
by the rules formulated in 1895.