Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-08
POLLOCK IS FINED;
OTHER CHARGES
NOT SUSTAINED
Mayor Ainslic Refuses to
Believe Sweets Evidence
as to Chief Sherry.
ORDERS SHERRY TO GO BACK
ON DUTY AS CHIEF OF POLICE
bertucci Acquitted on Payment
OF Part of Reward to Benevo.
lent Association.
CHIEFS RECORD IS CLEARED
i'ollock's Fine for Drunkenness Re-
gardcd as First OHcnsc OF
Efficient Officer.
ORDERS SHERRY TO GO BACK
ON DUTY AS CHIEF OF POLICE
CHIEFS RECORD IS CLEARED

ENhcient Officcr.
Mayor George Ainsl!c yesterday af-
'e;noon vindicatcd Chief OF Police {.
- sherry OF all the charges preferred
against MIN by the special grand Jury
Oh the Hustings Court and ordered him
10 report back for duty this morning
IN the case OF Captain George T. Pol
lock Mayor Ainslie fined him $3.50 on
inc charge OF having been intoxicated
ana guilty of conduct unbecoming an
oihccr in his home on November -.
1871 Completely cxonerating Detec-
tive Sergeant l.. c. Bertucci, Mayor
A!nslie ordered him 20 report back for
duty this morning
Thus has the last chapter OF the
police scandal as reported by the spc-
GA! grand jury OF the Hastings Cour,
on June "a been read. Charges ac-
ftci!ns the Police Department, have
been sustained in only one case-For-
mer Policeman G. y. Strain, who was
permitted 10 resign under charges be-
cause he had already enlisted in the
aviation section Of the signal corps.
The report recommended the re
'nova,- Of Chief Sherry for the good
of the service since he Is under the
Influence of promoters and proprietors
OF illegal gambling houses" The re-
moral Of Captain Pollock was recon-
mended because OF habits of intern
pe.ance and conduct unbccoming an
officer The removal Of Scrgcan, Ber-
tucci was recommended for frequent
ing gambling houses and participating
in Illegal gambling. Charging tha,
Strain was either bootlegger OF u
perjurer the grand jury recommended
his removal.
HEPoHTs DUE TO JEALoUSIEg
WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
The police scandal in Richmond arose
out Of peculiar conditions Subsequent
facts prove that IL was scandal
stirred up within The ranks OF the
Police Department. Rumors have flown
thick and fast discussion as TO irrcg
uiar!t!es in the Police Department has
been rife and interest was aroused 10
fever heat which continued undated
for three months.
When the grand jury made its re-
port on police matters in this city
eight policemen were indicted and the
dismissal of Chief OF Police Sherry.
Captain Pollock. Detective Sergeant
Ber,ucci and Policemen Strain recon-
mended All OF these indictments and
recommendations were made for al!
legged violations OF the liquor and
gambling laws.
Previous TO the meeting of the grand
jury Mayor Ainslie had taken official
cognizance Of the grave situation in the
Police Department, and removed, on
May %. former Chief of Police j. K.
B. Sowcll for 'inhrmity of Judgment
and discretion fatal 10 one occupying
the high and important position OF
Chief of Police OF the city Of Rich-
mond."
After much delay, custer proceedings
against Major sherry, Captain Pollock,
Detective Sergeant Bertucci and Police
man Strain were instituted in the Hus-
tings Court. During the first week in
July. at the specific request Of Com
monwealths Attorney Wise. Mayor
Ainslie suspended all the police Of
fcers against whom custer proceedings
bad been begun. On July formal
custer proceedings were instituted in
the Hastings Court. Judge d. c. Richard
son on July II rendered his decision that
the Hastings Court had no jurisdic-
ton over the trial of these cases. and
that the Mayors power of removal OFF
police officers was original and exclu-
sive
MAYOR AINsLIE RENDERS
WRITTEN DECISIONS
when this decision was rendered
Mayor Ainslic Immediately began pub
lie investigation Of the charges against
sherry Pollock. Bertucci and Strain.
These hearings began on July %, and
,.r, c,nciu1pd August
Mayor Ainslie rendered his decisions i'm
these cases. which are as follows.
I'm the matter OF C. j.. Pollock
find from the evidence that charge l
is sustained That the respondent was
intoxicated and guilty of conduct un-
becoming an officer in his home on
November 25, 1917. In view of the
fact that this is the first time that
charges Of any kind hrve been brought
against the respondent during his six
teen years of faithful and highly eff
fcient services to the department, and
in keeping with the immemorial prac-
tice in the department in the trial OF
frs: charges of this character | fine
the respondent $3.50. I find from the
evidence that the other and additional
charges against this respondent are
not sustained.
I'm the matter OF l.. Bertucci: | find
from the evidence relating to charge
| against this respondent that Their.
was n violation of the spirit of sec
lion IL Of the police regulations con-
cerning rewards and gratuities by his
acceptance of gift of money for his
mother. find that there was no re-
fusal to divide tho money with tne
Police Benevolent Association because
there was no request or demand made
for such division. i find that there
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