Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-17
Policeman Brown Engaged in
"AnOther Vocation"
REGULATIONS AM { ND { D
Commissioners Decide That Men May
Do Outside Work, With Approval
Of Chief and Chairman, In Future.
Unusual Case.

After doducting three days IHy
from the salary of POLICE Patroiman
NJ w. Brown because he engaged in
another vocation" during his vaca-
tior time in violation Of section Oh
the police regulations, the board oil
police commissioners, sitting yester
day afternoon in special session,
amended section so as 10 allow
an officers On the force To work at
"odd Jobs when of duty and on
vacation provided that the work TO
be done by them is approved by the
chief of police and the chairman ci
the board of commissioners.
Pa;rolman Brown began his annual
vacation of ten days. which - allowed
him BY city ordinance, on last FRI
day. Before / is vacation began nc
made arrangements With In" m"H-
aper Of the Williamson veneering
plant TO work at that plane tvs ten
DAYS It sl.25 per day am he began
work when his vacation began. Cher
Mitchell heard that the officer was al
work in the plant and summoned him
to the station. After reading TO hin
section of the police regulations.
which provides that no officer sha'i
engage in any other vocation or bus
mess" the chief ted the officer that
he would have TO deduct three days
pay from his salary.
Appeals to Board.
Patrolman Brown appealed 20 The
police board and retained Attorney
A. C. Garrett to represent him. The
officer told the board that when he
took the job be did not know that ne
was violating any of the rules OF the
department He said that he had
had considerable sickness in his fam
ilv year ago and had gotten be-
hind" then and had never been able
TO Day off the debts contracted at
that time. He did not have money
enough to spend his vacation out OF
town and so decided that he would
get job for the ten days and make
few dollars extra to apply to some
Of the debts he owed.
Attorney Garrett pleaded with the
board net to penalize the officer for
what he had done. He took the posi-
ton that the section under which the
fine vas imposed applies to cases
where officers engaged in work when
eff duty and thereby untitled them
selves for the proper discharge OF
their work when on duty. He ae-
clared that during vacation a mans
time Is his own to do with as he
pleased
Entertained Different View.
Chairman II. Is. Holmes entertained
a different view. however. and said
that section applied In this case and
that TO allow the mattersto go without
imposing a penalty would be setting
a bad precedent. Or. :. W. HobSOn.
secretary of the board, said that Mr..
Brown had clearly violated the rules.
but lad done so through ignorance
of me regulations and that he would
vote TO penatze him for not knowing
the rules.
Continuing. Or. Hobson said that
he thought the rule a bad one and
would move 10 amend 1t so as to al
low tie officers 10 engage in other
work when on their vacations and
when not on actual police duty. After
some discussion the motion was
ado )ted BY a unanimous vote. Com
Holloway voiced his APP
proval Of the amendment as mede by
DIR. Hohson.
With the approval OF Chief Mitchell
and Chairman Holmes. Officer Brown
will be permitted to work at the We
neering plant or elsewhere during the