Norwich bulletin., 1919-01-21
Especial to. The Bulletin)

New London, Jan. 17-Whiie the
mayor and the police committee of the
court of>common council are endeav-
oring to improve the efficiency of the
New London police department by
ousting men that have been tried and
true in the service TO make way for
new men, and jumping others over
longer service men, and placing begin
nerS on the detective force, it is a real
pity that one of the new and favored
ones should develop into a self-con-
fessed highwayman, and in coopera-
ton with a member Of the naval pa
troll hold up and rob a man of his
watch and So in cash This policeman
was appointed last December, early in
the month, and assigned to special de-
tective work as a plain clothesman.
Several young women had been as
saulted and this embryo and dishonest
detective was assigned to detect Jack
the Husger and, it has been limited,
that he was sent out to detect him
self.
Besides the highway robbery to
| which he has confessed, a revolver
was found in his possess that had been
taken from a Main street saloon that
| had been illegally entered. OF course
| the mayor chief Of police and the po-
| the real character of this man when
! they selected him for police duty and
! jumped him onto the active force.
Not since the real old days when
| Amos Avery, the first uniformed po-
| liceman New London ever had, and the
| interim when the city had a large
| force with DR.. Henry Potter as chief
| in the days when the mayor was. moi
the chief Of police, and during the
time that the force consisted of Heze.
! kiah &. Smith, up to tn organization
! of the present force and the present
! period, has any member of the force
! ben accused of any crime.
True these have been few in.
stances where the local cops have
| been accused of violating police rules
| or with being over officious and have
| been called on the carpet, but in nt
F, instance had a cop committed an Of
! Tense that would justify prosecution
! in the police court. No, not in thu
past sixty years at least, and uni.
+, formed policemen We're not known il
New London prior to that time.
The mayor and the police committed
of the present court of common coun.
| Gil, following the example of the pre-
| vious mayor during the latter part o
/ his term, have carried on the work o
| demoraliZing and disrupting what wa!
| q well organized and efficient. polict
force, that was doing duty to the full
! satisfaction of all laW-abiding citizens
| The municipal managers were not sat
| isfed with leaving well enough alon,
! in police matters. and the highwa,
| incident is one of the results. II woul,
be well IL the police committee, o.
even the self-styled police commits
! sioners, ceased meddling with the in
trior work of the department be-
fore the department is demoralizet
beyond all hope. especially as the cap
tain is Of their own selection. He per
haps appreciates his elevation owe
many officers his senior and of at leas
equal ability and would do his full
duty as he sees it if left alone by tn
mayor-chief and the police committee
men.
It seems to have become a rule tina
this committee direct police work an,
that the captain is made to feel as
he were only a figure head and that
all he is under existing conditions
The committee is supposed to have di
rection of the appropriation for polio
and its disbursement, establish rule
for the conduct of the department
and to leave the rest with the captain
and to hold him responsible for the &C
tual police work As matters are nov
the mayor or committee will issue or
idcrs concerning interior police worl
without even consulting the captai
Of thcir own appointment
! Suppose such conditions existed i
the fire department and member of tn