Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-19
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

IuIar meeting of the Board of Police
Commissioners last night, although thu
board was in session about an hour. The
| time was consumed 10 an interchange O.
opinion concerning the recent raid by
tn. Alexandra police upon st. Asaph
All the commissioners were present.
Shortly after the board was called to
order Mayor Paff requested Mr.. Graham
to take the chair, when his honor said:
(ientlemen--I am compelled 10 bring
to yoar attention an occurrence OF Mon
day, the 9th instant, which created con
siderable criticism regarding our ponce,
department among our citizens as vel
as those of our neighboring cities. 1
shall lay this matter before you as ex-
plicidy and briefly as it is possible Tor
me to do, and ask you to bear win me
during the time. 10 bringing the mat
ter to your attention deem 1t advisable
to state that the merits OF the case at
law THAT is, the legality of the business
conducted at st. Asaph) is not within
our province to determine, consequently
that feature must be obliterated from our
considerations. merely mention this as
the occurrence in question was-thst our
police department (or part of it) was
used 10 railing or serving warrants on
people conducting an illegal business at
that place without the knowledge or
consent of the Mayor. AS ST. Asaph IS
in Alexandria county and beyond the
city limits, contend that the same was
against or contrary to all laws touching
on the subject, and to prevent a re-
currence, the guilty parties should al least
receive the censure they justly deserve.
The powers of this board are clearly de-
fined in our city charter, articles 30 81
and 80. Under the authority given
you, you have formulated rules and
regulations governing the police force.
The Que which has been severely violated
and to which | call your attention is
rule s, and at the instance OF an official
to whom We, at least, have a moral
right to look for information. At
any rate, il should be above him
to induce men of any part of our
city government to fagrantly violate
the rules as laid down by you,
and thereby subject themselves TO pun
ishment, possibly dismissal. | main
tain that no policeman has the right to
90 beyond the city limits without the
consent of the Mayor, and coetend that
there is ample law TO justify me in this
conclusion. Section SSof the city charter
and 1893, page 422, Acts of Assembly.
In the police court during the trial OF
the alleged offenders the Commonwealth $
ATTORNEY saw fit to arraign me 10 an un
usual and unjust manner, while was
for maintaining for the lawful rights
which are given the chief executive of
our city. This, feel sure, only adds
to the censure which had already been
hesped upon him by the public. As to
his utterance, "fools rush i'm etc" j
contend that it is more applicable
to himself than for the one whom 1t
was intended. However, | am DEPRESSING
somewhat from the basis of my con-
teRtion. The whole contention resolves
itself to this Have we as board the
right TO Law down rules for the govern
ment Of the police force and has the
Mayor full charge Of them in carrying
out the laws within our city limit, or
has the Police Justice, Commonwealth s
Attorney or any other oflic er concurrent
powers with the Mayor.
The Mayor subsequently, read from
the Acts of the General Assembly the
charter OF the city, the act constituting
the Police Board, the powers OF the
Mayor under the constitution and the
book of rules for the government OF the
police force. His honor contended that
policemen could not be compelled to 60
outside of the corporate limits of the
city to serve warrants, and that the force
stood in the same relation to the city as
the fire department. He then read a
legal opinion obtained, he said, IRON a
gentleman Of this State in every way
qualified to rule on such matter,
which affirmed all the Mayor claimed.
His correspondent averred that the
police could not he carried outside the
city limits by tie Police Justice oil
Commonwealth Attorney without the
consent of the Mayor. Mr.. Paff read
from the Acts of Assembly in order Il
show that such procedure wa
forbidden without a requisition, aDc
urged that the written permission OF TIT
Mayor was necessary 10 one city OF thu
State before policemen could go beyond
the city limits. The latter requirement
he said, was city ordinance, but hi
honor referred to the book of rules gov
erning the police force which forbid
any member to Leave the city withou
having first obtained the Mayors per
mission. Mr.. Patf said be felt it incunl
bent upon himself, in order to maintail
his dignity az gentlemen and Mayor 0
the city, to lay these matters before tn
{ board.
! Mr.. Graham suggested that the aftai
concerned the Mayor personally, an
not the Police Board, without the Mayo
desired to bring charges against tn
. policemen who had participated in tn
. raid.
, The Mayor said he would like to hes
r some expression of opinion on the pat
of the commissioners, as the police ha
, been grossly and Intentionally misle
= by an official who should be above sue
I an act.
|, Mr.. Fisher said under any other CT
. cumstances he would do all he could
uphold the Mayor, but as the latter SCI