Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-20
POLICE FORCE
REDUCED TO IS
CITY COUNCIL PASSED oRDi.
F., NANCE LAST NIGHT; TO BE En-
FEcTivE MAY 4.
MEETS OPPOSITION
Passage Was Not Without Resistance,
rL.>> ~ cha AldarnnAn SaAkinn
MEETS OPPOSITION
PASSAGE Was Not Without Resistance,
Three Of the Aldermen Seeking
to Make Reduction Not 90
Large.

Large.
Beginning May 1, 1911, the Ottumw'
police force will consist of sixteen mel
instead of twenty-five as at present
Such was the decision of the city coun
Gil last evening, when an ordinance IN
troduced at the first session OF the new
body two weeks ago, was passed to III
second and third readings, and by
vote of 6 to 3 made legal action. Its
passage was not without resistance on
the part of three of the aldermen, whN
advanced lengthy arguments and en-
deavored to convince the entire body
that such course would be detrimen'
tai to the welfare of the city. There
was recently passed In the state legis'
latEre bill amending the civil serv'
ice law, which gives to the mayor the
power to discharge any member or
members of the police and fire depart
ments he may see fit, and without be-
ling compelled to show cause. This bill
now awaits the signature of Governor
Carroll, which is expected within a
very few days.
Among the other important actions
Of the city council last night was the
allowing of bills and claims amounting
to $9,13SO6, instructing the mayor to
fix a charge for the use of the ambu-
lance, abandonment Of the fire alarm
system and the charging to the county
OF certain prisoners.
! Meets Opposition.
When introduced for its second read
ing, opposition to the ordinance soon
became known At the first reading
two weeks ago, the entire council voted
for its passage, but further considera-
ton had changed the minds of three
of the aldermen. After the second read
ing, on motion of Alderman Gordon,
the rules were suspended and the or.
dinance put to its third reading. At
this juncture. Alderman Ehrmann
arose and said:
Gentlemen, am not in favor of the
reduction Of our police force to sixteen
men. You remember the time we had
here this winter with the hold-up men
when we needed all the patrolmen
available. Should such a thing occur
again, the council would be compelled
to stand the blame.
1T will mean the reducing Of our
force down to nine men shifts, which
is entirely insufficient to patrol the
city of Ottumwa. Therefore, make an
amendment to that ordinance that it
should read twenty-five, the present
number, instead of sixteen"
Alderman Ehrmann's amendment
was declared out Of order and thus
lost.
Lynch Offers Amendment
Alderman Lynch then offered an
amendment Of an entirely different
nature, and tended to explain the cause
of the reduction of the force more for
record than present enlightment. This
amendment was in effect that the ordi-
nance was passed because of the fact
that there was insufficient funds in the
police department fund to pay the
salaries Of twenty-five men.
swartz With Third.
Alderman Swartz then offered a
third amendment:
II move to strike out the sixteen and
insert In It's place eighteen, and have
that number of men constitute our
police force. have gone into the mat
ter thoroughly and deem 1t folly to
reduce the force and give Ottumwa
the service of only nine patrolmen.
With sixteen men such would be the
case, as it would require seven to
partment. There must be chief. a
night captain, two desk sergeants, one
night and one day patrol and ambu-
lance driver, sanitary officer and a
stone pile policeman. These are i'm.
perative. Thus we would have nine !
men to patrol beats. The South Side I,
is peaceable and quiet and we can get
along with one day and one night
patrolman. This would give the north
side four night men and three for day |
beats. In assigning their districts 1t
would be necessary to divide the city
as follows:
BEAT No. from Jefferson street
east to the city limits. Beat No. p
From Jefferson street west to Court
street. Beat No. 3-From Court street
west to the city limits.
TT is plain that three men cannot
cover these beats as they should be
covered. At night the second beat
would probably be divided into two
sections, from Jefferson to Market and
from Market to Washington. / also
believe that we need at least one plain
clothes man to get such offenders as
the police are not able to advance
upon because Of their uniforms There.
fore favor the insertion of eighteen
instead Of sixteen"
Leeney Would Start at Home.
II would start at home" declared
Leeney, II want to say to
you that I am ready to cut down my
own salary from $3.50 year to ;25.
and all the other aldermen should do
the same, then we should start on the
police force If necessary"
The motion Of Alderman Swartz was
lost, as was second motion Of Alder
man Ehrmann to fix the number at 20.
This was lost and vote taken on the
ordinance. 1t passed, six ayes to three
nays vote.
Would Charge County.
When the meeting first opened
Police Judge L. c. Hendershott stated