New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-18
Police Ranks Split
By Enright Order
Reprisals for Defeat of
Bills Shake Morale and
Men Fear Neiv attacks

Reprisals said to be directed by Po-
lice Commissioner Enright against
members of the department who OPP
posed the passage of the Enright bills
at Albany have split the force wide
open, leaders of various police organi-
cations declared yesterday.
Even the Police Lieutenants' Associa-
ton, which has stood by the Commits
sioner throughout the many storms
which have ragged around his office, has
turned against it's former president
because Of his recent action.
The morale of the department is
worse to-day than it has been in
generation, the mems leaders assert.
So little confidence in their chief have
the members, from the recruit patrol
men to the higher officers, that instruc-
tions given by the Commissioner are
being filed in secret by the men to
tionary measure should the Commits
sioner "change his mind"
Three Cases Called Revenge
Three explicit cases of reprisal are
cited by the men in the official actions
of the Commissioner during the last
| twenty-four hours. Other orders de-
opposed Enright's political plans are
hourly expected to develop.
The first action complained of is the
cancellation of the new sergeants' pa
troll chart. The second is the removal
of Police Sergeant William O. Jones
from the West 1921 Street station to
the Butler Street station in Brooklyn.
The third is based on the Commission.
ers refusal to grant the customary
leave to members of the Sergeants' Be
nevolent Association, in order that they
may attend the annual meeting of the
association, which is scheduled for
Friday night next at Terrace Garden.
The sergeants' patrol chart was
drafted by special committee of lieu
tenants and sergeants, and was ap-
proved by Inspector DAILY before being
handed to the Commissioner. At the
direction of Enright the scheme, which
is designed to Tighten the burden of
extra time and reserve duty for ser
geants, was put on trial on March 6.
In an order issued yesterday Com
missioner 'Enright rules that the plan
may not be continued after 1901 p m.
| from the sxty-day period fixed by the
Commissioner himself as necessary to
demonstrate the efficiency or failure of
the plan. The ruling puts 7S9 ser
geants back on the old system with its
admitted hardships.
The shifting Of Sergeant Jones to
Brooklyn is, the men in the ranks say,
another demonstration of the Old sys-
tenn for Furnishing members who are
out of favor with their superiors.
Jones lives near the Washington
new post he must travel for almost an
n hop Of ho +
delegation to Albany which protested
against the Enright bills, and is also a
candidate for vice-president in the Ser
geants' Benevolent Association.
The most extraordinary of the alleged
reprisals is declared to be the refusal
of permission to the sergeants to attend
the annual meeting of their association.
Men of every grade have been given
leave to attend annual meetings of their
organizations without exception under
all administrations. When Enright was
president of the Lieutenants' Assoca-
ton he regularly sought this courtesy
and it was granted as matter Of rou-
tine. BY denying the privilege to TWEEN
ty-two officers and delegates to the
meeting, the Commissioner yesterday es-
tablished precedent and antagonizcd
his subordinates to still greater de-
gree.
The bill which proposed to make per-
manent in their positions all inspectors
appointed by Commissioner Enright
from April l, without reference to the
civil service examinations, was opposed
| by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Associa-
ton, as we'll as by other organizations
and has told President La Guardia of
the Board Of Aldermen that he would
not approve the measure should it
come before him.
At Fridays meeting of the Board
Of Estimate the matter again was
raised. and II. II. Curran, President of
the Borough of Manhattan. demanded
a vote, which was cast unanimously
against the bill, in spite Of the Mayors
suggestion that the showdown was UNI
necessary, as he did not approve of the
measure.
The second bill, which sought to
make 700 detectives permanent in the
present grade without civil service ex-
animation and without possibility OF
demotion, was fought throughout the
Among these latter are a brother in
law Of Mayor Hylan and COMMISSIONS,
Enrght's chauffeur. This bill was in.
troduced by Senator Lockwood. The
Civil Service Reform Association op-
posed it, and Arthur Woods, forme,
| Police Commi ssioner, wrote to Senator
Lockwood that the measure was wrong
and unfair"
At a recent meeting Of the Police
Club on Riverside Drive, Commissioners
Enright asked the members to get be
hind it," because it was "a good bill
After he left the meeting a secret vote
disclosed 376 against the bill and 5S ir
favor.
The Detectives Assoc iation having
been given permission to go to Albany
to support the legislation, Il committee
from the Patrolmen's, Sergeants' ant
Lieutenants' associations applied fol
permission to appear in the negative
This was granted, under protest. The
Commissioner remarking: "What is the
us of opposing it, when it's going t.
pass anyway"
The committee, composed of Lieuten
ants Thomas Cummings and Martin
Gilhooley, Sergeants Joseph E. Cour
tenay and William Q. Jones lnov
transferred to Brooklyn, and Patrol
men Joseph p. Moran and George Null
rooney. went to Albany where the,
found delegation of forty detective
headed by Inspector Faurot (since ap
pointed Third Deputy Commissioner
Lieutenant Cummings told Senate
Lockwood at that hearing that the bill
would "demoralize efficiency IN the de
partment and blast the hopes of tn
members of the uniformed force of get