Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-04
ACCUSED men
OF DETECTIVE
FORCE UP TODAY

tlOntAnueu 1FVm EA8e uhe1
Greenberg although he had the OPP
portunity to do so and knew that
Greenberg was guilty of the theft Of
a Buick roadster, the property Of
George Richardson.
They'll hear from me all right
Friday. You can bank on that"
said Danbaum and would say moth
ing more.
Police Commissioner Ringer in
formed council that the charges had
been preferred against Chief of De-
tectives Briggs and Detective Wade
1--WE have no official notice of it
yet" said Mayor Smith.
THE charges are being typewrit-
ten now," said Mr.. Ringer.
These charges will be read before
council Tuesday morning and then
the time of trial will be set.
Mayor Smith declares that he will
back lip Commissioner Ringer to the
limit in his operation of the police
department.
Il believe Ringer is running the
department as we'll as any man
could" said the mayor and / shall
back him up with all the power at
my command. If there are men who
are taking rewards insteads of ar
resting criminals we will find out
and put them off the force. If there
are men who are doing the people
instead of doing their duty we will
put them where they won't do it any
more.
Council Back Of Fight.
"You can be sure that the city
council is back of this fight. 1t is
very likely that there will be a lot
of places vacant on the police force
before we get through. And those
places that aren't vacant will be
filled by men who can be depended
upon to do their duty for which they
are paid"
Commissioner IRE expects still
greater eruptions in the department.
"The present fuss serious though
it is, may be only a preliminary to
a much greater shakeup in the de-
partment that will jar loose a large
number of the officers" he de-
clared.
II am not alarmed at the present
disclosures. / hold to the view
that it indicates healthy condition.
If everything were serene it might
mean that graft was going on with
agreement among the personnel OF
the force"
Mr.. Ure will present his charges
against Detective Graham and
Franks to city council Tuesday. He
says he has received word from sew
eral citizens that it is common
practice of officers making arrests
to beat up prisoners without any
cause.
Haze Acting Captain.
Detective H. P. Haze was on the
job yesterday as acting chief Of de-
tectives.
He was named by Police Commits
sioner Ringer to head the detective
bureau pending the hearing of the
chief.
Rumor has it that Capt Henry |
Heitfeld will be appointed chief of
detectives to succeed Briggs. 1t was
said at central station that Heitfeld |
was in line" for the job in case of a |
shakeup in the detective department |
The suspension of Captain Briggs |
was made following a conference be-
tween Police Commissioner Ringer |
and Deputy County Attorney ]. A.
Ready.
Ready admitted yesterday that he
had gone to the pole commissioner
with information that the detective
chief had forged Judge BIRTHS name |
to a. warrant ordering the arrest of
Calhoun, now held in the county |
Jail for trial on a worthless check |
charge.
Mr.. Ready refused to say yester-
day morning whether or not Briggs |
would be prosecuted on criminal
charge.
County Attorney Shotweil is re-
ported as saying the prosecution |
would take place.
1t was said at central police sta
ton that Detective Leroy Wade was
being "crucihed' by Commissioner |
Ringer for having given information |
on his superior officer. Wade is
made party to the charges against
Briggs.
Wade takes the stand that he was
only obeying orders when he took
the supposed forged warrant He
saw Briggs sign it and called Judge
Britt after returning from Iowa
with his prisoner and asked if
Briggs had authority to sign his /
Judge Britt'sl name. Judge Britt
told him No"
Captain Briggs admitted Monday |
that he did sign the warrant but in
timated he signed it only to save
time. He wanted the police officer
who served it to leave town inn
to get Calhoun. who was
in Iowa.