Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-19
WANT OLD CHIEF
BACK IN OFFICE
Pasadena Business Men Insist That
w. w. Freeman Again Head the
Crown City Police Force and
Protect Their Property
Pasadena Agency.
II .Iorth Raymond Avenue,
Phones: Sunset 1907, Home 2l24.


PASADENA, May 1S.-The robbery
of the Pasadena postoffice and the es-
cape of the men who turned the trick
without leaving a clew on which to
work Is said to be responsible Tor a
strong effort which was made by many
of the leading business men of the city
this afternoon to induce Mayor Earley
to offer to former Chief of Police w.
w. Freeman the position Of chief of po-
lice. The offer has been made dozens
of times before and turned down.
Conditions of such absolute devia-
ton from harmony have existed for
some time in the police department, it
is said upon the best of authority, that
the officers and patrolmen of the de-
partnent are almost in open rebellion
against Chief of Police Pinkham. The
condition is utterly disgraceful and the
blame is laid at the door of Chief Pink
ham by the business men, who have
yelled "tin soldier administration" till
they are hoarse.
Among other things which the busi-
ness men find to condone is the abso-
lutte suppression of all crime within
the city. News of a robbery cannot be
pulled from the department with a
crowbar. BY suppressing the commits
sion of robberies and of other felonies
the chief is said to have endeavored
to conceal his inefficient effort to cap
ture the men who committed them.
Specific instances, say business men,
have been known when robberies have
been reported to the department and
officers sent out on the case. Ques-
tions on the case asked the chief have
awakened nothing but a series of viol-
ent denials.
The representatives of the press have
been treated in the same manner. 1t
has been almost impossible to gain
facts of the most trivial cases. The
patrolmen on the force stand in fear
of losing their jobs should they tell
the news or give the tip on a single
case.
The restraint on them has been gall
ing. Censure brought down upon the
department by the method has been
reflected upon them and they feel
keenly the reproaches of citizens. IN
der poor generalship they are power
less to correct the evil
1t has been this chain of violations
of faith that has sent the business
men out on the work of obtaining a
competent head for the department.
A majority of the Farley supporters
favor the appointment of Patrolman
II. H. Favour to the position. The
sterling qualities which he has exhibit
ed in the performance of his duty as
a patrolman have worked him into the
limeltght as the one possible candi-
date for the position. The movement
launched this afternoon was not inde-
pendent of that to land Officer Favour
in the chair of the police chief. The
movement looks only toward a shift
in the office which will land compe-
tent man in the chair. If Mr.. Free
man VIII take up the position at n
raise in salary Of from s113 to $3.50 per
month it is believed the position will
be offered him. It is the opinion of
his friends that the position will be
accepted. Others still firmly believe in
the final success of Officer Favour. The
matter will be finally settled Monday
Fine atrto roads to Coronado.