Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-08
No. 120, Al Published April 30. 1907.
CHAPTER 81, LAWS OF 1907.

AN ACT to amend section $3.50, section
059-41 and section 959-45, of the stat
utes of 1893. as amended relating to the
police and fire commissions In cities OF
the second and third class
The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre-
scented in Senate and Assembly, do enact
Section /. Section $3.50, statutes OF
1898. is amended to read: Section $3.50.
In all cities Of the second and third class,
however Incorporated, there shall be
board of police and fire commissioners,
consisting of five citizens not more than
three of whom shall belong to the same
political party when appointed, No sal
airy or other compensation shall be paid
to any member Of such board. Three
members shall constitute quorum. Mem
bers of said board shall be appointed by
the mayor in writing. and such appoint
ment filed with the secretary of such board.
1t shall be the duty Of the mayor OF every
such city between the last Monday OF April
and the first Monday Of May: 1907, to APP.
point two members of said board one or
whom shall be appointed for the term OF
four years and one for the term OF hve
years, and annually thereafter between tho
last Monday Of April and the first Monday
of May he shall appoint one member OK
said board for the term of five years. Mem
bers of said board shall hold their ofhce
until their successor Is appointed and quail
flied. Every person so appointed shall, be-
fore entering upon his duties, take and
subscribe the constitutional oath OF ONCE
and file the same with the city clerk. Va
cancies In the board shall be filed by the
mayor for the unexpired term
Section 959-41 Of the statutes OF 1891
as amended by chapter 17S Of the laws on
1899, Is amended to read: Section 959--41s
The chief Of police and the chief OF the
fire department shall be appointed Dy ting
board of police and fire commissioners, anQ
no person shall be appointed to any poBis
ton either on the police force or In thq
fire department without the approval on
on file with the city clerk the names OF all
persons who have been approved by them
For appointment in the departments undeH
the control Of said board, and said board
shall make and preserve correct records or
It's proceedings.
Section 959--45, statutes of 1898, az
amended by chapter 178 Of the laws OK
1899 is amended to read Section 959-4S,
~. The chief of police and the chief or
the fire department shall hold their re-
spective offices during good behavior. sub
1ect however 20 suspension or removal as
herein at any 5me f tbe f 6os
may act on its own initiative or upon writ.
ten charges made by any qualified elector OF
said city. and fled with the president OF
the board, Pending the Investigation OF
any such charges. the board may. in It's
discretion suspend any such chief officer;
But no such chief officer shall be removed
from his office unless written charges shall
be fled and an opportunity given him to be
heard in his defense.
(2). Every other officer or member OF
either department shall be subject to sus-
pension, for cause by the chief of the de-
paTtment or by said board If suspension
is made by the chief officer he shall Inn
medately report the same, with the cause
of such suspension to the president of tho
board and the board shall thereupon pro-
coed to examine the charges against such
suspended person, giving him an oppor-
tunity to be heard in his defense. After
hearing the evidence the board shall de-
termine whether said charges are sustained
and if they shall determine that sald
charges are not sustained such suspended
person shall be Immediately reinstated, but
il such charges shall be sustained then SAID
board may suspend such person temporarily
or remove him from the office or employ
ment as the good of the service may re-
duire Any qualified elector OF such city
may also file written charges against any
member of either department, which charges
shall be Investigated by the board in the
same manner that charges by the, CHER
officer are required to be investigated. and
pending the investigation of any such
charges the board may suspend the person
against whom such charges are nled.
(3) Every person against whom charges
are made shall be entitled to copy OF
portunity to be heard in his own defense
a.. Whenever any person against whom
charges are made, shall be convicted, and
the DO I'd shall decide to remove such per.
order to the effect to be entered In the
records Of said board.
(5). The decision OF the Doard on az
charges made against members Of said
departments shall be final and conclu-
sive.
90. No chief officer or member OF either
department shall be deprived of any sal
ary or wages for the period Of time he may
be suspended pending an Investigation.
CO. Further rules and regulations for
the investigation of charges made against
any member of said departments may be
adopted by the board.
Section 2. This act shall take effect
and be in force from and after its passage
and publication.
Approved April 80, 1907