Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-20
OFFICERS MUST
FACE CHARGES
POLICE COMMISSION CITES
SERGEANTS TO APPEAR
DEsERTIoN OF POST CHARGED
BY CHIEF
Members of Police Force Who At
tended Prize Fight at Maud
junction May Be
Removed

Because they attended a prize fight
at Maud Junction Tuesday night when
they were supposed to be on duty and
left the East Side police station with
OUT superior officers, Sergeants D. l..
Adams and a. W. Hartmeyer must
appear before the police commission
next Monday night and show cause
why they should not be removed from
the police force. This action was taken
by the commission on a report made by
Chief of Police Dishman.
The facts contained in Chief Dish
mas report were to the effect that a
peddler had been held UP and robbed
near the Indian village about o'clock
Tuesday night and the matter reported
to the East Side police station obout
6:20. Captain c. G. Lehnhausen was at
the station about 8 o'clock, as were
Sergeants D. L. Adams and A. W,
Lehnhausen went home and the two
sergeants went to McCarey's fight
pavilion. This pavilion is in the
central and not the East Side di-
vision. Chief Dishman stated that
during the evening he visited the East
Side station and the pavilion and
learning this condition of affairs he
learing this condition of affairs he
telephoned Captain Lehnhausen and
asked him if he knew his division was
without commanders in the field. Lehn-
hansen replied he had given Adams
permission to go to the fight, but not
Hartmeyer.
The chief ordered the sergeants to
report to him at once, and Adams ad-
mitted being at the fight with his cap
tain's permission. and also confessed
he had left his post uncovered and had
gone to the fights without permission
from his superior officers. Hartmeyer
confessed he had gone to the fight
Tuesday night without permission, but
had never done so before.
The chief reported he could produce
evidence to prove both sergeants had
repeatedly been guilty of such acts and
that one witness would testify they
never missed a fight.
In part the chiefs report follows:
Chief Dishman's Report
'The East Side division comprises
a great deal of territory, and because
of lack of enough officers in the de-
partment is very much undermanned.
For hours last night, and on many
occasions, if my information be cor
rect, the patrolmen on post on the night
watch have been left with no COM
manding officer in the field, having to
depend upon instructions from the act
ing desk sergeant at the office.
"Rule 81 reads as follows: Police
men on patrol duty will be considered
as sentinels on post and must conduct
themselves accordingly. This word
policemen is meant to include patrol
men, sergeants and lieutenants, when
ever officers of these grades are as
signed to patrol duty
"Rule reads as follows: 'Sergeants
shall promptly obey all orders received
from their superiors and set an exam
pie of sobriety, skill, discretion, indus
try and promptness to the patrolmen
under their commando
Under all the circumstances, leav-
ing this division short two rergeants
at night is beyond my comprehension.
In case formal charges are desired to
be prepared, it appears these provisions
of rule are applicable, fncompetency,
lack of energy, mental incapacity, neg
lect Of duty and conduct subversive of
good order and the discipline of the
force.'"
The chief reported he had suspended
both sergeants.