The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-04
POLICE BOARD
AFTER DESK
SERGEANTS
Acts On Prompt Reports of
Sick Cases drops Riker
lutOxicatiOn Charge.

Mistakes or Irregularities in failing
TO notify Police Surgeon Clark prompt
~ when policemen are sick may prove
costly to desk sergeants of the different
precincts in the city. The Police Board
asst night declared that they wanted
FEWER mistakes and more attention to
duty. Commissioner Harrigan said he
Favored bringing the desk ~scrgeants
before the board on charges. just as
the patrolmen are tried, for laxity In
performing their duty.
Every desk sergeant was at the meet
ing last night to receive instructions
from the Police Board as to their
duties.
Two irregularities in notifying Police
surgeon Clark about Fifth Precinct
men who were sick brought the matter
10 q e last night, though it Is
known that several citizens had COM
planned OF some desk ~sergeants for lack
of courtesy. Complaints, both from cap
tains n citizens, reached the ears of
the board, and the opportunity for
sunmoning the sergeants in a body
came last night. The captains of the
five precincts were also present, and
were quizzed as to the manner in which
their orders were obeyed. They all de-
clared that they tried to have their or
ders carried out. and they were obeyed
In most cases and never wilfully dis
obeyed.
The case against Mounted Policeman
William Riker. OF the First Precinct sta
tlon. charging him with being intoxicated
while on duty, was dismissed. That
Riker was the victim Of indis-
erection in taking liquor and medicine
on an empty stomach was the modified
statement Of Police Surgeon Clark, whose
first diagnosis of Riker's case was that he
was suffering from acute alcoholism.
While on duty on the night of November
q. shortly before 6 o'clock, Rlkcr became
violent in the stable of the First Precinct
station. His condition was such that 1t
took four policemen to hold him while he
lay on the floor. DR.. Clark. who was
summoned. was unable to properly dag
nose the case owing to the violent condi-
ton of the man. and judging from what he
saw then pronounced him suffering from
alcoholism.
In his own behalf Riker said that he
drank three gins at noon on November 27
aud at 4 o'clock had taken the prescrip-
ton given by a doctor. He said that he
felt no Ill effects other than a pain In the
stomach, He said that he was unused to
taking gin. Suddenly In the stable, shortly
1870 - - WV ~ NV LNl1 q L pain ~
the stomach and that is all he remembered
until he heard DR.. Clark say Take him
home. he is drunk"
After he heard Riker's statements and
the additional facts concerning the case,
DR.. Clark asked the permission of the
board to modify his original report so that
his diagnosis would not be acute alco-
holism, but indlscretion in taking medi-
cine and liquor on that day. This he said
was In iu-firp IN tho nn1fopynar urhou1 tp
knew personally was not a drinking man.
The board granted the request and on
the strength of this COMMISSIONS Castle
made a motion that the case be dropped.
This was. carried unanimously,
After three attempts. Commissioners Har-
rigsn brought out the fact that Patrolman
Riley, Erho was1a member of the Police
Depart Ind attached to the Third
PfeeinG had been dropped from the force
becais1al he had taken a prescription from
yE9physician.
iPoliceman Riley was only given one
ho,+ine and was broke for being intoxi-
ratnd while on duty" said Harrigan.
,.rbp hoard that broke the man ought
"a he hing" declared Commissioner Cas-
lie. Castle was a membe of the board
M question.
DR.. clark was the complainant in
,no cases of Policeman Fritz and
TrtIn0t OTltel mum VI -
T1raelnct. on November 20 Fritz Teporteu
off duty sick at II :l5. He was sent home
bv Sergeant Cosgrove, who reported the
case at once to DR.. Clark. On The sfter-
noon of the 27th DR.. Clark called at Fritzs
house and was told he was not sick ana
was not at home. Fritz at the time re-
norted to Captain Ubhaus and was excused
from duty with leave. Cosgrove was given
the report from Captain Ubhans and
marked Fritz absent with leave. He
placed the report in the back of the report
hook. but when Sergeant Jackes came on
dutv he did not look in the book and car
ried The man as sick. This caused some
confusion, as Fritz was carried two days
sick when 1t should have been absent with
leave. The commissioners will later decide
who was at fault In the matter.
In the Huff case. Head Truant Officer
Mccall reported to Sergeant Cosgrove that
Fluff was sick. Cosgrove marked his slip
and gave the report to the captain. No
report of the case was made to DR.. Clark,
as Cosgrove thought that 1t was Nc
Calls place to notify the physician, as
Huff did not report at the precinct and
was only carried on the payroll there.
Huff was carried two days sick without
Dr. Clark calling on him. This caused
DR.. Clark some trouble and the board de-
cided that It was a desk s~ergeant's duty to
notify DIR. Clark.