Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-29
Mayor Calls All Policemen to
City Hall Where He Tells
Them of What is to be Done
WILL WEED OUT BAD ONES
Asks Support of Good Ones
Wilson Consents to Give Up
ReinS in Police Matters

Members of the Perth Amboy
| police department, including the
| chief, Sergeants, detectives, traffic
and mounted officers and patrolmen,
were assembled in the council cham
| ber of the City Hall at 2 o'clock this
| afternoon by orders of Mayor Frank
| Dorsey and there informed that
henceforth the mayor will be the
| head of that department and exer-
else his rights as such. The only
| policemen not at the meeting were
Patrolmen Martin and Thullesen,
both of whom are sick, and those
who have been suspended on charges.
Mayor Dorsey told the men that IL
was their duty to obey the chief and
said that much criticism had come
upon the shoulders of the chief from
those who held him responsible for
the acts of the policemen under him.
The mayor stated that it was not
quantity that counted, but quality and
said that he would endeaVor to pick
out those who were not dong their
duty and dispense with his services.
The mayor was still addressing tho
policemen when the paper went to
press
| Commencing today Mayor Frank
Dorsey Is taking charge of the affairs
of the Perth Amboy police depart
ment, having relieved Alderman
William C. Wilson, chairman of the
lpolice committee of that board, as
the result of an opinion secured from
Adrian Lyon advising the mayor that
he is the head OF the police depart
ment here. Alderman Wilson has con-
lsented to give up the reinS which he
has held since the rendition of an
opinion in June of last year by city
attorney Leo Goldberger to the effect
that the police committees chairman
was the head of the police department.
Mr. MilGOn Gfatpd this O1nrDfnU That
lhe would be glad to cooperate in any
way possible with the mayor in bet
ltering the workings of the Perth AM
hoy police department.
A letter written ny Mayor Frank
Dorsey to Alderman Wilson this
morning explains his action and the
authority in which this move is
taken. This communication follows:
March 20, 1920.
"Honorable William c. Wilson,
| chairman Police COMMITTEES.
Perth Amboy, n. j.
MY Dear Alderman:
During the month of June or last
lyear an opinion was rendered by the
city attorney to the effect that the
police committee was the head of The
police department because Of an or
dinance and purported set Of rules
which came into existence in 1902.
accepted the opinion at the time, but
have since given the matter consid-
cradle thought and investigation. and
as the result find that the rules re-
ferred to by the city attorney do not
appear to have been adopted as no
record of the same appears in the or
tlinarce book And ! find from fur
ther consultation with two gentlemen
who were members of the Board OF
Aldermen in 1902 that the rules re-
ferred to We're in fact not adopted,
1 lnT.Nt l.f
this city, advises me that the mayor
4 is the head of the police department
of this city and per his opinion copy
of which Is attached hereto and
made a part of this communication
Under the circumstances i am taking
charge of the police from today as It's
head and have accordingly advised
the superintendent of police to take
his orders from me. or course stand
ready now and at all times to consult
with the police com mittee or the
Board Of Aldermen and shall be
pleased to receive any recommends
tions which the committee may make
from time to time.
Assuring you of my co-operatlon'
/ remain.
yours very respectfully,
FRANK DORSEY, Mayor
The opinion rendered by former
IJu0RG AuGldn Lynn " Nl.hy VI 'Cot.'>-S
fon the power of the mayor, with ref
erence to the police department of this
city, follows:
"Hon Frank Dorsey.
Mayor.
Perth Amboy, N. ].
,"My Dear Sir;
I'm answer to your inquiry concerns
ing the powers of the mayor of this
city In relation to the police depart
ment l beg to submit the following:
"The charter of the city (P. j.. 1870,
p. 1920 provides that the officers or
the city shall consist of a mayor. and
other officers mentioned. and in section
nine provides that he shall be the
head of the city police force, and as
such, shall maintain peace and good
order in said city, and SHALL have the
power to suppress all riots and tumul-
tuous assemblies, and cause to be ar
rested, without process or warrant, and
to commit for trial all persons violat-
ing, or whom he has reason to believe
have violated the laws of this state or
the ordinance of the city.
This act places great responsibility
On the mayor in requiring him to main
tain peace and good order and, quite
> necessarily, as well as by its express
! terms, gives him large powers requir-
ing the exercise of Judgment and dis
cret;on. These duties appear TO be
obligatory on him alone.
"'The supreme court has held in the
case Of Danforth VS., Paterson Nroom
1853. that whore judgment and discre-
ton are required of municipal officers
they cannot he delegated without eX-
press legislative authority
"The police ordinance Of June l9,
: 1902, found on page 1l5 of the conf
;. lpiation of the city ordinance of 1903.
1 leven if n could destroy the effect Of