The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-13
Charges Of Neglect of
Duty and Misconduct
In Office to be Probed
By Commissioners wo
Weeks From Now
Mayor Makes State
ment

The rumblngs that have been
heard about the city hall for the past
few weeks eliminated this morning
in Il real explosion when CHIEF r.. p.
Allen and Lieut.. O. +. Virgins of
the Lakeland police department were
suspended for thirty days.
The city commissioners were sit
ting in adjourned session when Mayor
Frank II. Thompson made the report
that he had suspended the above of
ticerS.. the action to he effective to-
day. for "non-performance, negligence
in performance OF duty. and miscon-
duet in Office"
The fact that there was some lack
OF harmony between the mayors
office and the police department has
been well-known in the inner circles
for the past five or six weeks, but to
the general public this will come as
ia great surprise.
A hearing before the commission
ers will be held on Tuesday, April 26,
and the commissioners will ut that
time either reject or sustain the ac-
tion of the mayor
T. p. Allen came to- the Lakeland
police force sixteen months ago, hav.
ing previously been special agent for
the Atlantic Coast Line, with head
quarters in Sanford. He has spent
eighteen years as deputy sheriff,
deputy u. S. marshall and as a no.
.er been fired or suspended before.
lice officer and says that he has new
IN spea king sof the present matter:
aiem says; - sssesss7
'If haven't done my duty, 1t is
because don't know how. My record
here and elsewhere is an open book.
We have caught more liquor here in
my term of Office than in any. town.
Iof the same size in the state. Last
month, the department turned into
the city $1,107. l admit that we
haven't caught all the gamblers and
illicit liquor manufacturers, but we
have kept after them, and no criti-
cism of my work ever came up until
about six weeks ago. In this connec-
tion, I'd like to say that Lieut.. Wig
gins, suspended with me, is one of the
finest officers 1 have ever been as
sociated with anywhere, being espec-
tally good in Investigations. l am
employing Rogers and Rogers as my
attorneys, and am going to meet the
thing half way"
Mayor Thompson was also seen in
regard to his side Of the situation. He
said that, of course, the evidence in
the matter could not lie made public
until the hearing before the commits
sioners, and went on to say:
MY action grew out of the public
criticism of the work Of the police de-
rt mont II hoinu all
bling and drinking joints We're being
run wide open. 1t will be recalled
hat | led several raids myself. Fin
ally, this public criticism grew so
strong, and so much blame was placed
on me personally that l felt that l.
vas time to clear up the situation"
Asked as to who would act as chief
If police during the next thirty days,
he mayor replied:
Il am going to offer the position to
frank Williams. He is the oldest Of
icer in the department, and is a good,
'eliable man. | feel that he Is the
roper one for the place
AT the same session of the commits
'oners, Mayor Thompson reported
hat he had made a thorough investi-
alton of reports against J. II. Nor
is,> formerly of the police department,
nd had found them without founda-
ion, and was therefore asking the
commissioners to give a vote exoner-
ting Mr.. Norris, and this was done
1r. Norris belonged to the Atlanta
olice force and served on the depart
lent here while on leave OF absence
rom his position in Atlanta.
W. Il. Bibby, who has been in
barge of the premises at the citys
cinerating plant, Was indefinitely
uspended. he having been arrested
fonday afternoon on a charge OF hav-
1g liquor in his possession as stated
lsewhere.