Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-17
COUNCIL TIES ON
SUSPENSION OF
TWO OFFICERS
Commissioner Zimman, Who
introduced Ordinance, Sup
ported by Butler and
FaIConer-T0WI AWAY.

A resolution offered by Commits
sioner Zimman, in city council meet
ing yesterday, calling or the sus-
pension OF Policemen George w.
Brigham and George Armstrong, re-
suited in a tie vote of three to three,
Commissioner Towl being absent.
Commissioner Towl is out of the
city. As a rule he has been voting
with Mr.. Ringer on propositions Of
this kind.
Mr.. Zimman was supported by
Commissioners Butler and Falconer,
Mayor Smith and Commissioners
Ringer and Ure voted against the
resolution.
Ringer Makes Protest
When the resolution was read by
the city clerk, directing the police
commissioner to suspend the Off
GERS who were bound from police
to district court on charges Of man.
slaughter in connection with the
murder OF Eugene Scott, Plaza ho-
tel bellboy, Commissioner Ringer,
yisibly affected, arose and said:
Il. Il believe it would be the part of
wisdom for the commits ssioners to
read the evidence of the coroner's
inquest before they vote on this
resolution" ="
Nobody has had time to read that
evidence" replied Mayor Smith,
with which brief remark, the vote
VAS recorded.
Falconer Makes Statement.
After the meeting Commissioner
Falconer said:
Il voted for the resolution be-
cause I believe that in view Of the
charges filed by the county attor-
Hey against these officers, this coun-
Gil is not justified in keeping these
men on the police force. Whether
they are guilty or innocent is not
the question. They have been
charged with crime and should
not be retained on the department
until the cases have been disposed
Of"
Commenting on his resolution, in
IN interview, Mr.. Zimman said: at
is not only a matter of discipline
in the police department, but I be-
lieve these officers should be sus-
pended on account of the public
criticism that is heard on every
hand. | am convinced that the gen
eral public demands the suspension
of these men.
Il believe all of the men who
participated in the Plaza hotel raid
jhould be suspended"
Ure Explains Vote.
Explaining his vote against the
cesolution and in support Of Com
missioner Ringer, Commissioner
Ure said:
Armstrong and Brigham were
not involved in the shooting at the
Plaza hotel. The county attorney
filed charges against these men to
discredit Mr.. Ringer, but he will
not discredit him with me"
The Zimman resolution read as
follows:
Resolved by the city council,
That in the interest of fair play and
Justice. as we'll as for the need of
discipline and good order through
out the police department, Commis-
sioner Ringer is directed to sus-
pend Officers George W. Brigham
and George Armstrong, and detach
said officers from the police force
until criminal charges filed by the
state of Nebraska against the ac-
cused officers have been tried before
a court and jury"
Armstrong and Brigham were
members of the PAUL Sutton-Elmer
Thomas-Ringer raiding squad at the
time OF the shooting at the Plaza
hotel. Since that tragedy Arm
strong has been reduced to rank Of
chauffeur and Brigham assigned to
a beat. In this connection the NOR
ais squad has been disbanded.