Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-02
POLICE BADGES
CAUSE INQUIRY
COUNCIL ORDERS INVESTIGA-
Tl0N INTO PURCHASE
DISHMAN SAYS HE BOUGHT NEW
SHIELDS TO PROTECT FORCE
Head of Department Claims Many Un-
authorized Persons Wear Stars
and Obtain Privileges by
Their Use

The council yesterday ordered an in
quiry into the purchase of the new po-
lice badges from the Los Angeles Rub
ber Stamp company. The reason for
the inquiry is that the supply commit
tee received no notice badges were to
be purchased and no competitive bids
We're offered.
The supply committee was not able
to find a requisition for the badges, and
says no authorization had been given
for their purchase. They were ordered
by Chief of Police Dishman because OF
the necessity for a change in the style
OF badges worn by the regular police
men. The new badges are in the shape
OF a shield instead of a star.
An investigation has shown there
are a number of police stars which are
duplicates, and the duplicates are held
by persons not attached to, the police
department. They are used for free
transportation on street cars. With the
new shields these duplicate stars can
not be used.
Policemen appeared on the streets
yesterday wearing the new badges,
which are considered a vast improve
ment over the old stars, lifting the Los
Angeles force out of the "Grassville'
class and placing it in line with the
most up-to-date eastern forces.
Says Mayor Authorized Purchase
Chief of Police Dishman stated en-
phatically yesterday afternoon that he
had been authorized by Mayor Alex
ander to purchase the shields. Fur
thermore, he stated, they would be paid
for if he had to pay for them out OF
the police contingent fund, but he be-
lieves eventually the council will ac-
Cept the bill and pay it.
Of
act blindly when he purchased the
shields.
Il bought the Shields" said Chief of
Police Dishman, "in order to Identify
the Los Angeles patrolmen who are on
the pay roll.
cit was done to protect the police de-
partment. About two months ago an
affair occurred that made me decide
the old stars were being used by 9TH
ers than patrolmen and for no good
purpose.
1.-TWO months ago man came to my
office and demanded the discharge of a
patrolman, giving me his number. He
stated the patrolman was intoxicated
while on an electric car, and had IN
suited his wife and slapped his face,
and threatened him with arrest If he
said more. The man said the officer
showed him his star, and he noted the
number. 1 Immediately sent for the
patrolman who had the star of that
number, and after investigation found
the patrolman in question was at the
police station making a report at the
time of the alleged trouble on the car.
1t was a case of a duplicate star.
Credit Is Given
81 know of stores in Los Angeles
where credit is given to persons for
wearing apparel and other merchandise
on the strength of the stars, and on in
vestigation have found they were not
members of the police force.
"The street cars have been Victimized
in the same manner, and l decided to
call in all the stars worn by regular
members of the police force. 1 know
that there are many persons, some, TOO,
among the higher ups, who have taken
advantage of the stars and used them
in an unwarranted manner for their
personal benefit.
"Since l caused the shields to be is
sued l have had sixteen applications
from persons who desire to wear them
and have no right to.
II wish to state that no person Will
get a shield unless he belongs to the
police department, and that may be
one reason for the little fuss.
II believe have a. right to designate
nv men as / see fit, and I know the
city auditor will approve the bill; and
also that I was authorized by Mayor
Alexander to purchase them. 1t may
have been due to my absence that the
authorization was not brought in the
proper way.
",The police commission will also ap-
prove the bill, and l am confident when
the city council thoroughly understands
the matter they will recede from their
present stand"