The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-20
Provides Increase of Police
Force by One and Wants Re-
tired Officer to Fill Place
MAYORS LETTER IS
NOT PROMISING
City's Executive Indicates That
He viii Approve of No APP
pointment Not In Strict Ac-
cordance With Regulations

The committee on ordinances last
night voted to recommend an increase
in the city's police force from so3 10
204 men, and to request the mayor
and chief of police to reinstate in his
old rank f. l.. krengel, former de-
tectiye sergeant, who was physically
disabled while in discharge of his duty
July 20. 1912 and who was retired
from the police force last octoher.
krengePs case has excited mach pop
uiar interest. and the meeting last
night was attended by a large body
OF citizens. Councilman Jacob Im-
lauf was the patron of the movement
Ia reinstatc krengel on the force. and
last night led the campaign earnestly
in behalf of the wounded offiGer.
krengel himself. az well Sergeant
John Willy. who was present when the
accident occurred that robbed tho
former of the use of his right arm,
both gave a detailed account of the
affair as testimony that krengel was
really discharginc his official duty
when he was shot. krengel. WHY and
EeIlam, all detectives. were prescott
in~ raid on q supposed cocaine
Joint" in the lo*er part OF She city.
and revolver found in the house.
supposed to have been stolen prop.
erty was found by krengei. He
handed il to willy for examination.
and the latter testified that as soon
as 4; touched ibis hand 1t Was dis
charged the bullet entering Krengels
arm. Medical assistance was rem
dered and krengel returned To work
but complications arose, and he was
finally retired from the service last
October.
Mayors Letter Read.
The letter from Mayor Ainslie in
r. gard to a statement made at
previous meeting of the committee, in
which he declared he would appoint
deaf dumb and blind man TO "a
phase on the police force II the coun-
Gil desired it, figured largely in the
proceedings II ia as follows
Feb. -. 1917.
Honorable Committee on Ordinances
Gentlemen While appearing be
fore your committee at one of it's
previous meetings | made answer to
q question asked by one of its mem
beers in language that am convinced
has been misunderstood ana which,
am advised. has caused emharrass-
nbent to members OF the city council.
Although the question was not relc
want TO the legislation pending before
eour committee, the answer ! gave
- it, which had 10 do with putting
men on the police force at the re-
guest Of the city council. has,
have above stated, been the cause OF
20 much Neutrality-suspicious. and en-
1arraSsmcnt. which | wish TO relieve.
that ] now withdraw the answer |
gave and substitute this in its place.
That iussmuch as the charter Of the
city applicable to the police depart
auent is in language Of the councils
own selection and wholly divorces the
council from all authority over the
police department, except to fix the
yE1yfter of policemen and TO prescribe
thew pay, am OF opinion that for
the council TO lcgislate on appoint
aaents to- the force would violate al
beast the spirit of the city charter.
and further think that proper man
egcmeni esprit and discipline of that
siepartment will be best obtained by
allowing il to be handled as the char
ter provides
As you all know, appointments to
the force are made by the. chief OF
police subject to the approval OF the
mayor but all such appointments arc
made under esta biished rules and reg
Glations with which all applicants for
appointment must comply: and there
fore, In consideration of the fcrcgo-
ing, although you have no legislation
before YOU designed TO influence APP
ST,7rtuTeuts to tho force, with new
~. It'll
10 soy - 80 . -.
~ no ~, =, ro.r,,1ar oraar - :
WIZ ~
'"o'e pas,octf,l,c
CE0PCE ArNsIJE
Mavor
=. - ,oi,ted nv. nv members of
A., a,,,,ttee thar the matter Law in
the hands of the mayor and the police
rbtef but Mr.. Cmlauf commended that
,,o,s baa heen made in other
1922, ~ sounded nolicen,en and de-