Norwich bulletin., 1919-05-17
Especial to The Bulletin.) )

New London, May 1.-The cases are all too frequent when brothers are ar rayed against brothers. but it indeed is rare for one pair of brothers-in-law to be battling against another pair of brothers law as is the condition able muddle in the police department of the city of New London. It is Ma yor Morgan and Senior Alderman Chappen, chairman of the police com mittee, op the one side. and Alderman Fitzpatrick and Policeman John Cava- naugh on the other, with the last named as the apparent bone of con- tention The latest episode in the se- ries of discord and dissatisfaction in the department is the result of tho po- lice committee taking Cavanatgli from the detective force where he had been doing really meritorious work outskirts of East New London on night duty, and, so far as can be learned from the mistaken supposition that he had given an item of police news to a local newspaper. This was the charge against him and the pun ishment was administered without the required hearing.
 The charge has been denied by the officer and by the newspaper and not proven by the committee. At a meet l ing of the court of common council Alderman Fitzpatrick. backed by a largely signed petition, made motion l that a special committee be appoint i ed to investigate the police depart ment, including the work of the com 1 mittee, and this was denied, the mayor referring the matter to the police committee for self investigation. AL derman Fitzpatrick thea engaged counsel to represent him before the committee. should the committee mem bers condescend to give a hearing | Specific charges have been made by Alderman Fitzpatrick, so there is nc lack of material for investigation. This action dispIeased the police committee and a private session of the committee was held last Monday night with Policeman Cavanaugf present and two days later report of the session was given out for publication There were discrepancies in that re. port, according to Officer Cavanaugh and he made public denial. and, tc the public. it has become question of veracity between the officer and the senior alderman.
 l Just at tho present time the officer il under suspension for insubordinatioi
  porting when ordered with the othel members of the night force to be a the police station ahd listen to an ad dress by Alderman Chappell. Instead he reported off duty as being indis I posed. That same night he drove from his home in his automobile and park ed the machine ill Masonic street When he returned to his car he wal met by Alderman Chappell and an other member of the police commit tee, Captain Pinney and Lieutenan Beebe. He was quizzed by Alderman .i Chappell and because he declined t, tell of his business during the evening while off duty. he was suspended thel and there. pending hearing.
 I Alderman ChappeiPs address to tn 1, night policemen, reported verbatim, S it is said, was given to the press, 0 rather Q portion of the press, althougi at the same session. the police officer were warned to keep their eyes an } ears open and their mouths shut in al matters pertaining to the department If any news was to be promulgate the committee would attend to tha i, little hing.
 } Alderman chappeIl went So Far as t : warn the cops that they must giv out no information to reporters 0 , stool pigeons!" That is going some : ii1 the line of autocracy and disrespec :. and is on parallel with the notic posted by Foxy" Bancroft at tn
 Harvard boathouse on the Thame
 when he was coach of his college cre'
 many years ago. Bancroft's notic tread: Reporters and Loafers kee Away" MT. Bancroft was quick to re alize his mistake and apologize to tn I ,ary ha hNA 1d ArR
 tial relations. and appreciated thei judgment and cooperation. To clas reporters as "stool pigeons" or pr 1 them in the same class is not relishet
 There may come time, some da,
 when Alderman Chappell. like Foxy
 Bancroft will be pleased to have re
 porters accept apology in a friendl
 spirit Perhaps Alderman Chappell
 overzealous in his endeavor to give hi native city the best police force eve
 but thus far persistent effort has nc
 been crowned with success, and tn
 object will never be attained by dis
 trusting reporters and making so.r special individual cop the goat. Ger
 tralization of concentration on one ir dividual officer. and wearing binder
 so as to obscure others from viey
 will not bring about any real gree
 police reform.
 The one redeeming feature of tf
 whole disgraceful muddle is that 1t
 not founded on politics as the quart,
 of brothers-in law are. so far :
 known, of the same political party ar
 three have been elected to office C
 the same party ticket. There has bee
 disruption in the police departmel
 ever since the unjustifiable action W:
 taken that resulted in the demotie
 and retirement of Lieutenant Thcm:
 Jeffers the most experienced, mo
 competent and efficient police offic,
 that ever donned a uniform in Il
 Seaside city.
 Fortunately for tSe readers of ti
 newspapers the reporters do not ha, l to depend on members of the poll,
 department to get police news, b,
 frequently reporters are of materi
 aid to officers in getting details in in
 portant cases. The reporter can g along better without the nolice offic