The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-08
SAYS THAT OFFICER
MERELY DID DUTY
Policeman Resumes H j S
Regular Night "Beat"
Saturday

| Albert AlSuOTI, suspended some
time ago from the police force on the
charges of "inefiiciency, incompe-
tency, malfeasance and misfeasance
in office, especially in making an un-
warranted assault on one John Ford !"
resumed his beat Saturday night
having been reinstated by the civil
service commission to which he ap-
pealed his case.
The report of the commission is as
follows:
Mt. Vernon, Ohio,
May 3, 1917.
Hon. C.. A. Mitchell, mayor,
Ed l.. Parker, director of public safety,
p. j. Parker, chief of police, of
Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
In the matter of the hearing of the
charges heretofore filed against Pa
trolman Albert Alsdorf by you wish
to say that the undersigned members
of the board of city civil service com
mission, did on the Goth day of April,
A. ID. 1917, hear the testimony both
in support of and against the charges
filed against said officer.
The record discloses that on the
3Oth day of March, 1917, you removed
| this patrolman for incompetency, in
efficiency, malfeasance and misfeas
ance in office and particularly in max
ing an unwarranted assault upon one
John Ford on the 18th day of Febru-
ary, 1917; to this removal the officer
| took an appeal to this board and
which has been fully heard upon the
evidence.
The only testimony upon which 1t
was sought to sustain these charges
was in the manner of the officer MAX
ing the arrest,
The testimony fully discloses that
on this occasion that Ford was in
toxicated, and had been put out of
one or two business places on account
of his bad conduct and finally went
into the business place of Mr.. Fry on
South Main street, where it was
again attempted to get him to leave
which resulted in his refusal, and Mr.,
Fry called for an officer.
Officers Alsdorf and McElroy re-
sponded to this call and in making
this arrest MIR. Ford resisted to the
full limit of his strength and ability,
and after he found these officers
would take him nevertheless. he be.
gan and continued to use the most
vile language that was possible for
him to utter, and which resulted 1.
Officer AlsdorI jabbing him in the
mouth with his mace.
After carefully considering all oI
this evidence the board are OF the
opinion that the force used by the
oiiicer on this occasion was perhaps
greater than was absolutely neces
Bary to accomplish his arrest, but
may have been necessary to stop his
vile and indecent language in the
presence of ladies,
The matter therefore resolves II
self into the question as to whether
the board will justify Mr.. Fords get
ting drunk and abusive and resisting
arrest and as one of his efforts, and
In the presence of ladies, use such
language which is too vile to print
or whether the board under all the
circumstances will stand by the OIL
Ger In his attempt to preserve the
peace, quietude and respectability oi
the community.
We. therefore. find that the order
in removing Oficer Albert Alsdori
was not and Is not warranted and is
therefore. dlsafiirmed and the officer
aforesaid be reinstated.
It is therefore considered, adjudget
and ordered that the said Albert Ais
dorf be and hereby Is reinstated as
patrolman OF the city OF Mt. Vernon
Knox county. Ohio.
JAMES A. SCHAEFFER
WILLIAM +, RIMER,
l.. G. STlLLWELL,
Municipal Civil Service