The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-06-24
MUST WALK STRAIGHT
Police and Fire Commission Lay
Down Strict Rules for the
Two Departments
NAME SIMMONS PRESIDENT
z. G.. Simmons, Jr., is Elected President
of the Board to Succeed Christian
Schend - John Prid-
dis Secretary

A general shake up in the police
and fire departments of the city is
promised as a result Of the orders of
the Police and Fire Commission issued
at the meeting Of the Commission held
ON Tuesday evening and the rules of
the Commission will be lived up to to
the very letter in the future or there
will be general cleaning up of the
forces of both departments.
It was the first meeting of the new
Commission and a reorganization was
effected by the election of q. G.. Sim
mons, Jr., as the successor of Christian
Schend as president of the Commits
sion. John Priddis, who has served
the Commission as secretary for many
years, was reelected to this office.
Both of the officials were chosen by
the unanimous vote of the Commission.
The first act of the newly organized
Commission was to summon Chief Of
Police O'Hare and Chief of the Fire
Department Henry Isermann before
the Commission and strict rules were
laid down by the Commission for the
guidance of the members of the de-
partment and the chiefs were directed
to see to it that these rules were read
to the members of the department and
that they be strictly enforced. For
the past few months many complaints
have been received on account of
drunkenness among the members of the
forces. While complaints have not
been made which would warrant the
Commission calling any of the mem
bers of the departments before them
for trial these complaints are an an
noyance to the Commission and they
must be stopped. Members Of both of
the departments have been charged
with being in saloons in uniform and
drinking intoxicants while on duty.
In the future no member of the police
force or the fire department will be
permitted to enter a saloon during
the hours that he is on duty unless it
be in the strict performance of his
duty. The chiefs of the department
will be forced to keep the closest
watch on the men and regular
M ~, W. ropor+e waved bo x,aJo - IL :.
Commission. The discussion of this
matter brought out the fact that proof
of intoxication while on duty will be
considered as sufficient cause for the
removal of any member of either de-
partment and there will be nc privileg
ed. characters in the eyes of the Com
mission. A new method is to be in
stalled in the work of the Commission
and in the future the Commission will
hold a meeting on the first Monday
of each month and at that time regular
reports will be made of the conduct Of
members of the forces. y In the past
the Commission has held two meetings
a year, but it was found that this ar
rangement was very unsatisfactory.
No action was taken in regard to
the adding Of new men to the force,
but the conditions will be closely
studied by the members of the Com
mission and it is expected that some
recommendations will be made to the
Council after the July meeting of the
Commission.
2. G. Simmons, Jr., the new presi-
dent of the Commission was named as
member of the Commission by ex-
Mayor James German year ago and
he has taken great deal of interest
in the work Of the Commission.