The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-16
: faIlK N. J JuIlan,
 Secretary of State.
AN ACT

To establish Police Commission in
 cities of 35,00O population, or more,
 in counties of 125,000 or more pop
 ulation and to define their terms of
 office, duties and powers. Be it en-
 acted by the Legislature of Alaba-
 ma:
 Section l. In all cities of 35.OO0 or more population, in counties of 1250O0 or more population there is hereby es- tablished Commission called "The Police Commission" and to be compos- ed of three Commissioners. the Mayor of the city to be a Commi ssioner and Chairman of the Board, and two other Commissioners to be appointed by the Governor to hold office until the next regular election for the city offices in any such city. At the next regular cleo tion held for the election of city off cers there shall be elected two Com missoners, one for the term of two years and one for the term of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and on the eXpir- alton of these terms their successors shall be elected for the term of four years. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of Police Commissioner, except a qualified elector of the State of Alabama, over twenty five years of age and resident of the city at the time of his election and during his term of office. Nor shall any officer or employe of the municipality or of the State or county be eligible to hold said office. 2. Before entering upon the dis charge of the duties of the office, every Commissioner shall take the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, and may be re- moved from office for the same causes and in the same manner as justices of ara fav ,fes. conduct 3. The Police Commission" shall have the exclusive power and au- thority to appoint and qualify all of the policemen and police officers of the city, and supervise and control them in the execution of the laws and shall have power to suspend or remove any police officer or policeman for any neglect of duty or failure to execute any process from any court, or to ar rest any person found violating any law of the State, or of the municipal ity, or who commits any act involving moral turptude, or is given to the habitual use of intoxicating liquors or found under the influence of in- toxicants of any kind while on duty l. The Police Commission shall keep a record of their proceedings which may be kept by one of their number, or by secretary elected by them and
 
 have the power to fix his compensa- tion and his term of service, and re- move him at will. The record or min utes of their proceedings shall be open to the inspection of the public. ,. The Police Commission shall prescribe rules and regulations for the government of the policemen and officers and for pre- ferring charges against any police of ficer or policeman. and for the trial of such charges, and they shall have power to summon witnesses or any any other person who commits any contempt in their hearing or presence the same circuit courts now have. Every Police Commissioner shall have the authority to administer oaths and take affidavits. G. Any Police Com missioner who votes for any order suspending or modifying any law of the State, or municipality, or who gives any order to any policeman or officer not to enforce the law, or arrest any person found violating any law or ordinance or who knows of any vio- lation of the law, ordinance or rules by police officer, po- lleeman, or failure to perform his duty and fails to report same imme- diateIy to the Commission, is guilty of a misdemeanor and must on convic- tion be fined not less than $500.00 and must also be sentenced to hard labor for not less than three or more than six months.
 Approved, March [, 1907.
 Official.
 Frank N. Julian,
 Secretary of State.