The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-27
Officer Is Again Charged With Mistreating Well
 Known Citizen
HAS HAD SOME
 TROUBLE BEFORE
Shapiro Alleges That Officer Mani fested Uncomfortable Temper, Gross Indiscretion, Manifest
 Arrogance and Malice

Isadore Shapiro, member of the Ala bama legislature and well known law yer of this city. has filed formal complaint against Officer Burkett eff the Birmingham police department with the city commissioners
 Shapiro alleges that the officer arr rested him for no just cause and in- stead of carrying him to headquarters in a manner in accordance with the treatment law-abiding. self-respect- ing citizen should have of at least walking to headquarters, this was de- nied him and he was literally dragged by the officer, who is one of the larg- est and most physically powerful men on the force. to the jail. Shapiro Is not physically able to walk at very rapid pace and this, coupled with the rough treatment which it Is alleged he ie- ceived at the hands of the officer caused him to appeal to the. commits sion.
 T was not treated as a tax-payins. upright citizen" said Shapiro. but in- stead was treated as a criminal of the worst type. Had I been a safe blower l could not have received any worse treatment from the hands of this man. l did not violate any law; I was mere ly standing in the stairway of building on Second avenue; l was not blocking the sidewalk as was charged In the complaint. I couldn't have been l was not on the sidewalk. Aside from this I would not have objected to the off oer arresting me but when he took advantage of my not being able to keep up with his gait and proceeded to shove, push and drag me along the public highway l felt that l must have some recourse at law, hence my coli plaint to the commissioners"
 Not First Complaint
 This is not the first complaint that has been made regarding the lack of ordinary discretion of this particular officer. who. 1t is reported has gone out of his way to make himself offensive and especially overbearing to a number of well known citizens when he had the opportunity. As a result the attitude the commission will take in the present case when he is charged with mistreating a man whom he
 
 be watched with considerable interest.
 MT. Shapiros formal complaint fol- lows:
 ITO the Board of Commissioners of
 the City of Birmingham:
 "Gentlemen-The undersigned. Isa- dore Shapiro, a citizen of Birmingham, hereby respectfully prefers charges against George Burkett. a member cf the police force of the city of Bir- mineham. and requests that upon full hearing and investigation of said charges, said George Burkett be per manently removed and discharged from his position as such officer. As grounds for this request complainant sets down and assigns the following:
 '1. On the afternoon of Saturday, April 24, 1915, the said Burkett, under the guise of performing his duty as such police officer, unwarrantably and with reckless and arrogant usurpation Of his powers, placed complainant under arrest for blockading the sidewalk on Second avenue, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets, at the bottom of the stairway of the studio of Paul Mann. Photographer. Said arrest was made by such officer because complainant re- fused to comply with an unwarranted, unlawful and bullying order to move on and get out of the way Your complain ant was within his legal rights and was violating no law or ordinance.
 Treated in Brutal Way
 "2. The said George Burkett, while under the guise of making the unwar- ranted arrest aforesaid unnecessarily and maliciously grabbed complainant by the shoulder and pulled and dragged complainant a block In taking him to the city prison such pulling and drag ging was done In brutal, spiteful, bull lying and revengeful manner The com plainant repeatedly requested said Bur kett to let go of his shoulder and arm and repeatedly stated to him that he would go with him peacefully without being dragged and pulled. Notwith- standing these repeated pleadings. said Burkett persisted in pulling and drag ging complainant through the streets amid the jeers and attraction of the citizens, and would give him no op- portunity to make bond. to make in- quiry as to witnesses, or even to speak to his friends on the streets for assist ance The manner of said Burkett in so acting was arrogant, wilful and mali cious
 "s. The said Burkett in making the snwarranted arrest aforesaid and in pulling and dragging complainant to the city Jail showed a reckless disregard and wanton disrespect for the rights of citizens, and displayed vile and un- controllable temper, gross indiscretion, manifest arrogance, spite and malice; that said Rurkett unlawfully and unnec essarIly committed an assault and bat tery on complainant: all of which dis closed his utter lack of even common sense. and clearly demonstrated his total unfitness and incompetence for the position of a conservator of peace and order. ISADORE SHAPIRO. "State of Alabama, Jefferson County.
 Before me. the undersigned authori- ty in and for said state and county, per- sonally appeared Isadore Shapiro who being first duly sworn, deposes and says that the averments set forth in the fore going charges are true.
 Subscribed and swofn to before me, this 26th day of April, 1915.
 NELL FREEMAN,
 Notary Public"
 Makes o1 Feel Like 10
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