Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-08
HAMMEL WILL
RESIGN TODAY
CHIEF OF POLICE TO LEAVE
DEPARTMENT
REFUSES TO BE FIGUREHEAD"
Breach Between Mayor and Chief Said
to Have Grown Out Of the
Formers Inter-
ference
REFUSES TO BE "FIGUREHEAD''


tender his resignation at the meeting
of the police commission this morn
ing, to take effect September 1.
Chief Hammel will not admit It.
Mayor McAleer says he knows nothing
of the rumored resignation, but those
who are in close touch both with the
mayor and the chief say the former
will not be surprised when a brief but
courteously worded note is read to the
police commission this morning.
"wil you resign?" was asked of
Chief Hammel by a Herald reporter
yesterday.
Eyes, when I am ready" was the
reply.
But when?"
"When 1 am ready"
This morning, perhaps?"
''I shall not announce my resignation
IL. the newspapers before 1t is In the
hands of the police commission" was
the chiefs final reply, and his sudden
attention to the business of his office
showed the reporter more plainly than
words could have told him that the
interview was ended.
Hanmel's Friends Indignant
Back of the resignation of the chief
are facts not at all to the liking of
friends of Mr. Hammel, who have seen
him build up the police department,
systematic all branches and conduct
the whole in a manner which many
public officials say has never been
equaled in the history of the city.
"Chief Hammel,' said one of his
friends yesterday, "cannot longer hold
his Office and retain his self respect.
When he accepted the position under
Mayor Snyder and consented to remain
under Mayor McAleer's administra-
ton, it was with the understanding
that he would be chief in fact, not
merely in name.
"e.onstant ntinterference on the part of
the mayor. the total ignoring of Chief
Hanmels wishes as to the disposal of
men and conducting the affairs of the
office compel him to take this step.
Until the mayor sought to conduct
the department and relegate the chief
to the position of f1gurehead the police
system of Los Angeles was In an ex-
cellent condition. Recently Chief
Hammel's work has been overthrown
by the mayor. The office is becom-
ing demoralized and this is due to the
fact that for months Chief Hammers
wishes have been ignored and his
really excellent system of conducting
affairs has been torn down."
His Wishes ignored
Persons who have watched events at
the police station say the removal of
the wagon men and Jailer Shand has
done more to cause a breach between
the mayor and the chief than any
other one act. 1t is understood that
Chief Hammel sought to prevent the
removal of the men but that the ma
yor would not heed his wishes.
Detective Paul Flammer has been
mentioned as a possible successor to
Chief Hammel Flammer is a close
personal friend of the mayor.
Mayor McAleer's opponents openly
charge that the chief executive is en-
deavoring to build up political ma
chine at the police station and that
with this end in view he has made nu-
rnerous changes and has so interfered
with Chief Hammel that the latter
would be forced either to resign or be-
eome mere figurehead.
Chief Hammel will be a candidate
for the nomination for sheriff on the
Republican ticket in the next cam
paign and had intended to resign his
present position not later than Jan
uary /, 1906. Mayor McAleer said last
night that he is not trying to build up
a political machine at the police sta
tion, as his opponents have asserted.
He says the men who have replaced
others in the offices are competent and
of known ability. He refused to say
what action will be taken by the police
commission regarding Chief Hammels
resignation.
.,.,-AH nANInArrEnN