Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-22
POLICE BOARD
READY TO QUIT.
Thinks Councils Action Will be Det-
rimental and Injurious to
Organization.
n E SOLUTIONS ADOPTED
,H Change Is Tasls,-5s sfective Board
Thinks That Jurisdiction of Force
Should he Left In the Hands ofCnuncil.

Another tangle was added 10 the
police situation Of alexandria last
night when AT their regular meeting.
the Board of Police Commissioners
unanimously passed resolutions which
will result in The resignation Of all
the members of the board if the am
enGmrnr TO the charter OF the city,
which was passed by the common
council at it's meeting Tuesday night,
becomes q law. The resolution in
question is known as the Brumback
substitute and was adopted after a
long drawn out debate. 1t took the
place of the report of the committee
on police OF council, who agreed 10
the recommendation OF The police
commissioners in reference TO the
change Of the charter providing for
! The election Of as many sergeants as
council would provide instead of one
lieutenant. which is now authorized.
In the discussion of the measure
last night al the boards meeting it
was clearly brought out that the ad-
option of the Brumback resolution
would be most detrimental TO the dis
cipline OF the force. Among the OBJ
jectionable features is the one which
requires that the uniform. rules and
regulations ETC.. adopted by the
board. shall be subject to approval Of
the council. II was stated that If
this was carried out a hopeless con-
fusion would result. The board has
on many occasions spit. recommends
tions 10 council and never heard from
them. One instance was quoted last
night. Nearly a year ago the board
asked council for an appropriation
of $50 to be used for special work
in connection with the department.
the idea being 10 have 4 small fund
on hand for emergencies. and no
answer was ever made.
Being familiar with the diversity
of opinion among members of the
council on so many matters, the
board is confident that any regula-
tions adopted by them, after months
of consideration. would be defeated
or delayed on the floor of the coun-
Gil and they are therefore unwilling
10 continue in office under such con-
ditions.
One of the commissioners spoke of
the request Of the board 10 have the
law changed TO provide for sergeants
instead Of lieutenants. The decision
to ask for this change was only asked
for by the board after two years OF
consideration. and yet council dis
posed Of it in few hours OF debate,
during which time it. was clearly ap-
parent that few Of the councilmen
who discussed the measure had any
knowledge Of the conditions that had
brought about the request. A mem
ber of the board could have ex-
ipained the entire proposition 10 the
satisfaction of every one in five min
utes. but it is serious question wheth-
er or moi it would have been the wise
thing to do.
Commissioners Bryan. Oehlert
Barrett. Fisher and Mayor Paff all
spoke in favor of taking some defin-
ite action which would outline the
position of the police commissioners
in unmistakable terms and as re.
suit the following resolution was un,
animously adopted:
Be it hereby RESOLVED. That
| the board Of Police Commissioners
has received copy Of the amend
menl to the charter of the city of Al.
exandria. as adopted by common
council. February 10th, providing
| for change in the organization OF
the police force of Alexandria which
| is not in accordance with the request
of this board recently made TO coun.
Gil.
RESOLVED, That il is the unani-
nous opinion of this board. the May
or concurring. that the change in the
charter requiring the rules, regula
tions. uniform. ETC., adopted by thi:
board be subject to the approval o.
council will be most injurious anc
detrimental to the police organiza
ton.
Be it further RESOLVED. That tt
promote the best discipline in the
force it is the opinion Of this boarf
that the duties of the chief of po
lice should be fixed by this board ant