The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-19
CHIEF OF POLICE ISSUES STATEMENT
 ON RESERVATIONS
Action of Motor Scouts in Quitting Followed Re- mOval of Two for AL legged InsurbOrdi-
 nation

Chief of Police T. J. Shirley stated last night that the action taken yesterday morning by six members of the local
 motorcycle squad, who rendered their lresignaions to the chief yesterday morn
 ing, was not the result of any friction between him and Commissioner Taylor.
 The cause of the resignations of the six
 motor scouts who are, Ollie Mullins, George Hendrix, Virgil Sandifer, Woody Sandifer, O. T. CiayDurn and c. F. Ed dins, is declared to have originated from their indifference to the orders given out by Chief Shirley that none of the men are allowed to wear civilian or non uniform caps while on duty. Only the reg ulation uniform caps should be worn. Chief Shirley states:
 In the first place, I want it to become known that the difficulty which dntor- tunately arose between the motor scouts and myself yesterday morning is not d reflection of any strained feeling between
 Mr. Taylor and myself whatsoever. Fur thermore, the action taken by the scouts is a result of direct disobedience to a superior officer. l told the men yesterday when they appeared before me that II they could not obey the orders given out by a superior officer they should hand i in their resignations.
 "There are several good men l have i'll sight that 1 think would make good mo- 1 torcyc men and l expect to place them l in the vacant positions. l anticipate ho
 difficulty in filling the vacant positions l with men just as responsible as tue one l that have just left.
 The difficulty arose over the oruels ! given out to the men that they must wear the regulation uniform caps and not | the civilian caps that they have been | wearing Chief Shirley gave his reason ] for wanting the men to wear the uhi- form caps as follows:
 Il am informed of the fact that there are several motorcyclists in BirmlnShain posing as motorscouts who are catching speeders in the city limits and accepting money for bonds. l want the scouts 10
 wear the uniform caps so the public VIII
 know when a real officer of the law IS
 stopping them"
 The officers thated that the uniform caps were cum mbersome and ineonVenleht, especially when riding fast, They ai9o stated that Commissioner John Iayloi granted them permission several days dso to wear civilian caps.
 Chief Shirley further declares that ne advised the men that if they could de- eide upon a certain make of cap for all to wear and one that badge could be pinned on to show to advantage, he would approve of the change
 It is understood that only two fnotoi scouts are now on the force.
 According to further information gwen out by the chief, Mullins and Hendrl& were suspended several days ago for ln- subordination. alleging that when Hen drix's motor was out of order he refused to ride a bicycle at work when asked to do so Mullins, Hendrix's co-worker, IL is said, refused to work alone and also refused to ride the bicycle while at worh' The men then were suspended.
 Chief Shirley stated that the reslsns- lions of all the scouts except two fol- lowed as a sympathetic action.