New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-25
Enright Shifts
Lieutenant as
Fourth Reprisal
Chief Adviser to DAILY Is
Assigned to Desk Duty
With No Sign of Warning
by Police Commissioner
Opposed Chiefs Bills
Transfer Laid to Spite;
Members of Force Threat
enPrOtectiOn for COmrade

Police Lieutenant Thomas Cummings.
who has been for two years chief ad-
wiser TO Chief Inspector John DAILY at
Police Headquarters. was yesterday
removed from his position and assigned
to desk duty in the First Inspection
District, Clinton Street, under 1nspec-
tor William F. Boettler. The transfer
was made on the order Of Police Com
missioner Enright.
This, according to members Of the
Police Department, Is the fourth OF a.
series of reprisals launched by the
commissioner against the men who
dared to oppose his will in relation to
the inspectors and detectives bills at
Albany.
On the ground that the proposed
measures would deprive the men of the
department Of their opportunities and
would make Commissioner Enright's
nominees permanent in their position,
regardless of their civil service quail
fication. officers and men Of the de-
partment have fought the measures in
spite of the position in favor of the
bills taken by the commissioner.
1t is said that among the benefit
Charles of the proposed measures. had
they been passed, would have been de-
tective officers who are closely con-
nected with the commissioner, one of
whom is a brother-in-law Of Mayor
Hylan.
Following the action in opposition to
the bills which was taken by the Pa
trolmens Benevolent Association, the
Eergeants' Benevolent Association and
the Police Lieutenants' Association,
Jointly, Commissioner Enright trans
ferred one of the protesting sergeants
to a precinct distant from his home,
revoked the new sergeants' chart,
which had been recently placed in
operation, and denied permission to
number of delegates to attend the an
nual meeting Of the Sergeants' Bene
VIOLENT Association, held Friday last.
These measures, the men say, were
opponents of the bills, and the claim Is
made that the removal of Lieutenant
Cummings is in line with the same
policy.
Members of the Police Department
say that Cummings has been marked
Tor punishment ever since he returned
from Albany, where he led delegation
Of the Police Lieutenants' Association
which appeared against. the proposed
detectives bill. Previously Commits
sioner Enright had appeared be-
which he was formerly the president,
and urged the members to support the
bill Lieutenant Cummings spoke
against the measure and a secret ballot
taken after the commissioner had left
the meeting showed 312 against the bill
and only SO for it.
Immediately upon Lieutenant Cum
mings's return from Albany, it is said,
Commissioner Enrght summoned In
have to be rid of Cummings. Acting
tn this order, Inspector Daily recon-
mended three lieutenants in succession
for Cummings's post. When the NOM
1nees learned they were to supplant the
man who had led the opposition to the
detectives bill they refused to accept
the job, although in each case it would
have meant promotion.
AS result of this attitude on the
part Of the other lieutenants, Cummings
remained at his headquarters desk for
almost a. month after Commissioner
Enright had ordered his removal.
According to the men on the inside
Of the department, this situation led to
some careful probing as to their will
3ngness to support shr cmfwyp mhm
tngness to supersede Cummings, should
the post be offered them.
Finally candidate was found in the
person of Lieutenant James Mckenzie,
who was formerly one of the super
visors of patrol. Mckenzie was at
Cummings desk at headquarters yes
terday. Differences of opinion regard
ing the police bills have split the
Police Department into two factions
and the hostility to the commissioner,
displayed by his own men is reaching
disturbing proportions.
1t is the belief of very large num-
Der of the men that Commissioner En-
lights recent readjustments have
been made solely in spirit of revenge
for action which they had every right
60 take, and their resentment is daily
becoming more evident.