Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-20
PUBLIC CTOTELL
.WHATITK KNOWS
OF OFFICERS
Public is Invited to Attend Open
Hearing and File Any Com
plants it May Wish
to Make.

City commissioners will begin the
general investigation of the police
department this morning. Former
Captain Stephen Maloney will be the
first witness summoned, meetings will
be held in the open and the public
has been requested to consider this
as an opportunity to criticize or offer
suggestions.
1--WE extend through the press an in-
vitation to citizens to regard this as
their investigation, held and super
vised by the city council" said the
mayor. III any citizen has any charge
to. make against any member Of the
police department, or has any sug-
gestior for the betterment of the de-
partment, this will be the time and
place to be heard. If any citizen has
anything to say against any police
man or officer of the department, the
latter will be brought in forthwith
and asked to explain in the presence
of his complainant. We will begin the
investigation Friday morning at 9
o'clock AND will keep at it until every
thing before US has been cleared up"
To Summon Maloney.
Il think we should issue summons
for Stephen Maloney. He has made
certain charges against members of
the department and l believe it is
only due those members that Maloney
be brought in here and the matter
thoroughly investigated" said Com
missioner Butler, whose motion was
seconded by Commissioner Hummel
and adopted unanimously. The city
clerk issued the summons which has
been served on the former police cap
tain.
Last week Maloney uttered for
newspaper purposes certain charges
against Superintendent Kugel, Chief
Dunn and Captain Heitfeld. The
charges were of serious nature. The
captain has announced he may bring
suit against Maloney.
IL don't think we should heed
anonymous letters or telephone. calls,
but should require that complainants
present themselves before the city
council, Last night | received tele-
phone call from a citizen who COM
planned against one of the police SER
geants being in a certain line OF busi-
ness. ] told my informant to appear
before the council during the >investi-
CATION" said Commissioner Butler.
No Anonymous Complaints.
IF you stop to consider these
anonymous complaints you will be
here six months" replied Commits
sioner Kugel. "Not day passes that
I don't receive several anonymous
complaints. If a man won't front with
his complaint, he is not worth con-
sidering."
81 believe the proper way to begin
this investigation" suggested Chief
Dunn. "would be to obtain all OF the
outside information possible and then
let the members Of the department
answer or explain criticisms or sug-
gestions from citizens. i
"Let it be generally understood
through the press that an opportunity
is extended to the public, to appear
during this hearing. We have heard
a lot of noise; now let US get at the
facts" was a comment by Commits
sioner Jardine..
"We will welcome suggestions. tor
the betterment of the police service"
added Commissioner Butler. There
have been complaints rgarding lack OF
protection in the residence districts.
agree with the chief, that we should
first take up complaints and sugges-
tions from citizens who are the EN-.
ployers of the police department and
the city commissioners"
The sessions will be held in the city
council chamber.