Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-21
PATROLMAN MUST
PAY HIS FINE
POLICE COMMISSION Furnishes
INSTRUMENTATION
officer With Good Record Loses
Time and Money Because He
Talked Back to His
Sergeant

Patrolman A. Mercer of the Univer-
sitv sub-sfation was fined S25 and sem
fenced to be reprimanded by tne chte,'
by the police commission lasV .lsh.'
Sergeant Williams preferred ctIslr 1ai,ss se
of INSTRUMENTATION against MN, ciaiIn-
ing that the patrolman had lost ms
temper and said rude things on the
night OF the recent county electloh'
Mercer pleaded guilty to the charges
and made a statement. HIS statement
melted the hearts of commissioners
tToean and Saddler and touched the
cardiac organ of Mayor McAleer. and
had II not been for the stand taken by
commissioner James Mercer would
have been Immediately reinstated In
the service without loss of money or
time.
lost his temper because, according to his
story, he was reprimanded by Sergeant
williams before the watch" whereas
1t appears the usual course Is to repri-
mand an officer in private. Mercer said
he mad walked two beats on election
day because a brother officer was sick
He began his duties at o'clock in the
morning and was on duty until $40 at
night, when he left and went home to
bed. although he had been told to stay
until O'Clock. 1t was this twenty min
utes' interval that caused the repri-
mand before the watch" from Ser
geant Williams. He answered the SER
geant in language which he has since
regretted and was suspended Through
his suspension he lost $50 of his month
ly pay.
No Leniency Shown
When he told the commission that
he had served on the department for
fourteen years, had walked every beat
in the city and had never been in trou-
BILE before, Commissioner Hagan said:
This man has been punished enough.
He has lost $50 already and the trouble
is so insignificant that it might easily
have been attended to in the depart
ment without bringing it before this
commission. I move that he be inn
mediately reinstated."
"I do not think So" answered Com
missioner James This amounts to in
subordination and such an offense is
the worst thing that can occur in the
department. This man should be made
an example He should be reprimand-
ed by the chief and fined $25.''
Commissioner Saddler objected to the
fine as he thought the patrolman had
lost enough money through his suSpen-
sion.
"I think he should be fined about
S25, and if he's not able to pay it, I'll
pay it myself" said Mayor McAleer.
But we must not let an offense of
have more of them. He is evidently
a good officer and on that account
am inclined to be lenient with him"
James wanted to take the case under
consideration for another week, but
Hagan pointed out that If such action
was taken it would simply mean that
Mercer would still be under suspension
and would lose another $25 of his pay.
which would be equivalent to filming
him the same amount. Rather than
delay action Hagan seconded James
motion.
The commissioners, however, were
not so tended hearted with Patrolnan
Frank p. McDivitt, who was reported
by the chief for having been found
asleep on his beat. McDivitt is one of
the new patrolmen appointed the first
of the month, and when he not only
pleaded guilty to having been asleep
on his beat, but also to have been under
the influence of liquor, the commission
showed him no mercy and dismissed
without a dissenting voice.