New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-16

In the above terse communication.
pregnant with meaning to those VINO
feel that recent petty interference of
, the safety board in police matters is
bringing state of chaos to the de-
. partmcnt and making it the laughing
-.Stock of other departments in the
BLAST Sergeant Theodore NJ. Herting
,Severed his connection with New Brit
ain police department late yesterday
safternoon, turning in his badge and
tkeys to Chief of Police William j.
. Rawlings at headquarters with the
letter of resignation. Coming With
out warning, his resignation proved
like bombshell to his superiors and
colleagues as well as to the public 81
large. Under recently passed orders
of Commissioners Howard NJ. Steele
and Frank J. Moran of the safety
board, with Chairman Edward G.
Babcock going on record in opposition
on the ground that it would seriously
affect the efficiency of the department,
out on street duty at Z o'clock last
night in charge of Squad A with SUI
pervison of the city south of the rail-
road crossings. AS result of his
resignation, Sergeant William c. Hart
had charge of A and B platoons.
Sergeant George Kelly, detailed TO
Sergeant Herting's former place If,
charge of headquarters from mid
night to a. M, began his new duties
last night.
Feeling that his assignment to
street duty was, in reality. an unjust
demotion, a yelled attack on his abl-
ity. with no course Of defense other
than resignation, Sergeant Herting
took. action after mature deliberati
eff my work has not been satisfac-
tory, if there are any specific conf
plants or I am not considered COM
petent" he said today, II would well
come charges go as to be able to have
the entire matter aired and be al
lowed an opportunity to defend my
SELF
Praised by Superiors.
For about eight years Sergeant
Hertine has been lieutenant of the
department in everything but name
nnd salary. During this time he has
been, at times. virtually in command
OF the department during temporary
Absence of Chief Rawlings and Capt.
P w. Grace His work. according to
Chairman Babcock of the safety
board and Chief Rawlings. has been
Cfat OF a IFSt CLASS oi1ittI anu pdtFOl-
man absolutely honest, to be de-
pended upon in any emergency and
an excellent disciplinarian. the city
loses a faithful and competent serv-
ant in Sergeant Herting," said Chief
Rawlings today. 81 Wish that he
might see his way clear to reconsid =
err" he continued. HE has several
reasons for resigning. He seems -
feel that sooner or later he would have
to go and did not care for, what he
considers to be. further humiliation
He has clean record and I consider
him an Al policeman and officer'i
Chairman BabcOck also took the
resignation with much feeling and
considers it "a shame" that conditions
should be such as to cause him to feel
that leaving the department is the only
thing he could do to maintain his self
respect. Upon eceiving the unsealed
communication today, he Immediately
sealed it without reading it and sought
Sergeant Herting in an attempt to Sc
cure a Reconsideration of it, before it
goes before the board. They had q
long conference this morning in which
Chairman Rabcock pleaded that the
resignation be withdrawn, at least
temporarily and until the return of
Mayor George a. Quigley. Sergeant
Herting was firm in his decision to
leave the department, with conditions