Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-23
CHIEF OMAN
STEPS DOWN
HANDS IN RESIGNATION TO NEW
BOARD
REMOVAL POLITICAL ISSUE, SAY
THE DEPosED
Former Chief Repeats Charges Are
FaIse-ouIts "Fov Good of
Department and
the City"
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
i SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 22.-The in
i stallation of the new police board, the
resignation of jeremiah Dinan as chief,
and the acceptance of their fate by the
old board were today's developments.
\ The old board, which was removed
from office by Mayor Taylor, held a
j meeting this morning at which it was
practically decided to relinquish office
this afternoon to the board appointed
by the city's chief executive. Chief
| Dfnan, after a consultation with the
former commissioners, prepared his
resignation. 1t is understood that he
will resume his old position on the
| force as detective sergeant. Captain
/ Anderson of the Mission police station
is now acting head of the department.
Notice of his removal from the office
| having finally been served on Police
| Commissioner William r. Hagerty,
Mayor Taylor this morning appointed
A. ID. Cutler as commissioner, thus
completing the new board.
| Immediately before the convention of
the new appointees this afternoon the
/ surrender of the old board was an
| nounced by their attorney, Frank J.
| Murphy. In a typewriter statement
prepared by him, Mayor Taylor is casti-
gated for what is called his ''remark-
| able ana drDlLrdry Assumption OIL thc
| power of removal"
He is bitterly accused of trying and
/ convicting the chief of police without
| hearing and decreeing his dismissal in
palpable violation of the provisions OF
the charter"
"For Public Interest"
The statement concludes as follows:
/ eve do not recognize the cause as
signed for our removal as sufficient in
| law or in fact, but having in view the
paramount public interest, we have de-
cided to relinquish possession of the
office of police commissioners peaceably
| and without trouble.
"Any other course would mean two
police commissions, both claiming to
| exercise the powers of that body.
Confusion and Decentralization would
result in the rank and file of the police
Department. department recognized
/ as one of the most efficient in the
| United States. Property rights and life
would lack adequate protection, and
| condition would exist little short of an
i archy. For these considerations affect
/ ing the public, and for no other, we
i shall make no attempt to further exer-
else the powers and functions OF the
police commission"
1t was learned from some of the old
commissioners that it is their purpose
! to make their removal by Mayor Taylor
4 an issue in the coming municipal cam
paign; to carry the question on to the
stump and fight it out at the polls
Their endeavor will be to secure from
the labor union candidate for mayor a
pre- election promise to reinstate them
| in office if he is elected.
New Board Seated
| At 2:30 o'clock Commissioners Sweig-
ert, Kell Leggett and Cutler filed into
| Al NIB
was collected, and took seats facing the
five captains of departments and the
ca ptain of detectives. w. D. Kohl
meyer Mayor Taylor's legal adviser,
presented to Secretary Skelly the GER
tifcates of their appointments and as
| their names were read by him in turn
they took their official seats.
| Notably the first business to come be-
| fore the new board for consideration
was the resignation of Chief of Police
Dinan, a very brief and formal COM
munication in which he relinquished
office without stating the cause and
thanked the members of the depart
ment for their faithfulness.
''I move the resignation of Chief
Dinan be accepted" said Commissioner
Leggett Chairman Sweigert put the
question, the secretary called the roll
and it was done. On motion of Com
missioner Cutler Dinan was given thirty
view of past services"
| Captain o. M. Anderson, the ranking
| officer of the force, was elected acting
chief Adjournment was then taken.
Immediately after the election Of
Captain Anderson Dinan gave out the
following statement:
Calls Charges False
"The charges against me contained in
the communication from the mayor
whereby the police commissioners have
been removed are merely reiteration
of charges that have heretofore been
made against me. They are, as have
said before, absolutely false, though
perhaps the mayor may not be apprised
of that fact. My reasons for retiring
from the department are that from the
nature of the charges assigned as cause
for the removal it is obvious that 1t Is
the desire of the present administration
that I should resign. This being SO,
should I retain my position would
only jeopardize the rights and interests
of my friends in the department.
II leave the office of chief without, I
believe, single enemy in the depart
ment ] have been absolutely just and
fair to. all of its members and under the
conditions I do not think any other
person could have done better by the
city of San Francisco as chief Of police
than have I. I desire further to state
that the treatment have had at the
hands of the police commissioners will
never be forgotten by me. Under very
trying circumstances indeed they have
continued uniniuenced by fear or favor
to deal with me justly"
There is considerable speculation as
to who will finally be selected as chief
of police to succeed Dinan. The under
standing is that Captain Anderson will
not continue as the head OF the depart
ment and the names of ex-Chief witt
man. General Woodruff and Captain
Seymour are mentioned in connection
with the office.
Los ANGELES MEN ELECTED
BY KNIGHTS or KHoRAssAN