The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-03
POLICE
ARE SUSPENDED
Chief of Police and Night
Waterman Were Let Out
by City Commission.

Mandan, n. D.. Aug. 3.-Following
la resolution passed by the city COM
missioners Monday evening, July %,
to suspend Policemen Bambury, Roby
and Richie from the city police force
after August 1. some interesting de-
velopments have come about in the
police situation, eliminating in the
suspension yesterday Of Chief Reyn-
Odds and Night Waterman Knoll by
President John Foran. pending the
investigation Of certain serious
charges made against these W MEM
bers Of the force by him. The COM
plant, a few extracts from which are
given. was subscribed and sworn to
yesterday morning and is addressed
to the city commissioners, conse-
%quently it will undoubtedly come up
at the next meeting Monday evening.
Brief History of Matter.
Reynolds has for about two and
one-half years been chief Of the local
police force, during which time
Michael Knoll has been one Of the
summer an agitation has cen started
for a moral cleanup Of the city. and
during this rather strenuous cam
paign certain subdued ~insinuations
have been heard against the chief and
Knoll, worst of which vas that they
winked at the gambling dens and
bawdy houses. A petition was circu-
lated and signed by many law abiding
citizens praying the commissioners to
enforce the city's ordinances against
these places, and this matter was
tons to act as he saw fit. Mr.. Foran
straightway told the commission that
he felt powerless to do anything with
the regular police force at his dis
posal, but the police commissioner,
loath to remove the policemen unless
on some specific charge, continued
them in office, and Mr.. Foran tried
the e%xpedient of appointing two po-
l%icen1en of his own. feeling that Mr..
Ritchie. one of the night men. was in
sympathy with his cause. These po-
June.
Time went on and the public com-
planned Of the burden of paying so
many policemen. so at the July %
meeting by a vote of three to one, Mr..
Foran dissenting. the commissioners
decided to remove from office Po-
licemen Richie. Bambury and Roby
August 1.
Foran Acts Decisively.
AS a last resort in the enforcing
of the laws left to him. Mr.. Foran
decided to suspend. on his authority
as president. Chief Charles Reynolds
and Waterman Michael Knoll, and he
filed complaint against them which
contains the following charges. in
brief:
Charges Unperformed Duty.
Both Reynolds and Knoll are
charged with malfeasance and non
feasance in their respective offices.
with incompetency to fulfill same and
with fragrant disregard of public
duty. in that, as the informant be-
lieves. they permitted gambling to be
carried on in the city with no at
tempt at prosecutions: that Reynolds
frequented gambling dens to gamble
for himself: that both failed to do
their duty with regard to attempting
to prohibit the sale Of liquors. and
that other unlawful and illegal prac-
tees We're permitted.
In ar interview Mr.. Foran said:
Il have done what I believe to be-
right and have stayed by the position
! took in the start. that of doing what
] believe to be my duty. 1t is I'D to
the commissioners to make the next
move"
The. move is awaited with interest.