The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-22
OFFICER GETS
SUSPENDED FOR
SIXTY DAYS
POLICEMAN WHO SHOT ANTONIO
oLIvERA LAST MONTH WAS
SUSPENDED FROM THE SER
VICE FOR SIXTY DAYS.

Police officer Harper's case was re-
heard by the board of public safety
last night. After argument for and
against the retention of the officer in
the service of the police department
the board voted to suspend him from
the service for sixty days, 1t being
the concensus of opinion that the Of
ffcer acted too hastily in firing at the
negro and deserved to be punished
but on account of his good record in
the service and being commanded by
his superior officers to stop the prowler
in the western section Of the city IL
was thought he should not be dis
missed from the service. The offense
for which Officer Harper was tried was
for shooting Antonio Olivera when the
negro was running from him.
Evidence Submitted.
Olivera. Is employed as waiter at the
San Carlos hotel and said he was on
his way to work at ten minutes to five
when the officer stopped him, that he
corner of the block. He said he knew
he was an officer but he was afraid of
him and ran to get some help.
Captain Reed and Officer Harper
testified that the time was an hour
earlier than Olivera said, and that the
negro was coming from a yard near
the corner of DeVilliers and Govern
ment streets when the officers stopped
him. They had been instructed by
Captain Anderson, acting chief, to put
a stop to persons prowling around in
the city during the night. Office-
Harper testified that he called to the
negro many times to stop and shot
into the air three times, but the fourth
time he shot at his legs.
George H. Hervey testified to the
character of the negro who has been in
"a oh II
said the negro was always reliable
and honest, and was never known to
drink
After the evidence was taken Mr..
Fredericksen said he thought the
SHOOTING urcalled for and that she Of
hcer should be dismissed from the
aenice. A4r. Preston thought other
wise, claiming that the negro was in
the yard and that when he ran from
the officer it was sought to give the
impression that he was seeking to
them. He thought the officer justi-
fable in shooting and moved he should
be exonerated.
Mr.. Johnson thought the officer
should be suspended for sixty days,
but ne thought the officer was trying
to follow instructions in stopping the
providers.
Chairman Hargis took the position
that the rules of the department for
bidding the firing at persons in cases
Of this character should be enforced
He said no officer had the right to
attempt to take human life when the
laws of God and man forbade 1t.
A heated argument followed. Mr..
Preston very strongly fighting for the
officer on trial. He said unless the
officers could use their guns that every
negro and white man would run from
them. Mr.. Johnson said unless the
providers could be stopped by the Of
ficers that every citizen would have to
$50 armed to defend his household.
A motion by Mr.. Frederickson to
ratify the former action of the board
was lost and then the motion to sus-
pend officer Harper for sixty days
carried. The board INN ediately adj
journed.
Oficer Harper has already served
about forty of the sixty days Of his
suspension. Captain Anderson testi-
fed that he was one of the most eff
cient, Industrious and popular men on
the police force.