South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-17
BAXTER Is FINED
BY SAFETY BOARD
FOR HASTY ACTION
Policeman Fined Weeks Pay
and Reprimanded Off
Ger Kline Resigns.

Afa meeting 81 the board Of public
safety las, nien'. Officer Emmett
= Baxter. on tpial before the board.
charged with uubecoming conduct
and while under the influence OF
IIauor. provoking and assaulting two
Young men without Justification,
was fined one weeks pay 70 be
turned over 70 the pension fund
being found guilty Of acting TOO
i hastily in striking one of the yonng
men The board was convinced that
Baxter was not intoxicated AZ the
time and charges Of intoxication
were dismissed.
The charges brought against the
. officer were the outcome OF an alter
a cation on the morning ~ May %,
between The officer and Felix =
Barthkowiak. 70 years Old Or 4f3 $.
Walnut 81. after Baxter and Omcer
Szvrnanski had ordered Bartkowiak
and two companions 70 20 TO their
homes Numerous complaints have
been made 90 the police about young
!. men accustomed 20 standing at the
corner ~ Division and Olive SITS. had
made insulting remarks 10 women
and girls raising by
About 1890 on the morning ~
May 2s the two officers saw Bart
kowiak Stanley A. Jaronik. 435 s.
Walnut 81. and Andrew Rudeschi
sitting IN n doorway At the corner
and questioned the men az 10 what
q. they were doing According 10 the
+ testimony brought out at the hear
ing last night officer Baxter told
them they had better go to their
homes but that Bartkowiak stated
he did not have 70 go II he did not
wish 10. After a number or evasive
remarks made by the boy. officer
Baxter told Bartkowiak he was un-
der arrest. AS the officer was tax
ing his prisoner to the police box.
Baxter charges the youth called him
vile names. adding that he would
get him for arresting him. Baxter
then states that ne struc, the boy
with the back OF his hand and not
with his club. as charged splitting
the boys lip.
Youth Not Arrested
The young man then ran down
the street. according TO the testimo-
ny given by the police and the
young man himself and hid I'm a
yard on his friend. The officers.
satisfied that they had done their
duty by Kidding the corner OF the
young men refused % give chase.
The three young men later appeared
ar tho police station and made
their complaint TO Acting Capt.
Harry Bader At the trial officer
Bader testified that he could smeu
20 liquor on the breaths OF both young
4. men and further stated that they
threatened 20 saoot Baxter If the
mayor OF the city did not remove
him for his assault on them. Fart
kowiak admitted making such a
81 statement while anEered and further
admitted that ne had been drinking
r., that night
4. The board reprimanded Baxter
for his quick temper. advising him
g. 90 be more careful IN performing
g his duties in the future Their ac-
. ton In filming the officer resulted
only after the evidence was care
fully weighed and the proving with
out a doubt that the officer had
u struck the young man without due
.r provocation.
r. The resignation Of OFFICER Art
.t Kline suspended recently on a
s. charge Of intcxicatlo7 was recelv-
Cd and accepted and ordered placed
on file
q Many Applicants Heard
At least 20 applicants for posi-
70 tions on the police rorce appeared
before the board for a preliminary
examination SIX or the applicants
we're accepted as satisfactory and
have been ordered TO appear this
morning for a physical examination
before the department. coctor The
men succeeding m passing the ply
seal examination VIII be assigned to
duty az once 10 ru the vacancies
now existing
The hoard sanctioned the pur-
chase or second hand Cadillac
touring car. from the rocar agency
80 a cost Of $3.50. The Cadillac
now in use IS 20 be overhauled and
rut I'm first class saape. according TO
the agreement made. providing the
\, purchase for the additional Cadillac
VAS made a number Of other cars
we're tried out hut were rejected
+. because OF their pIiid ana inability
~ stand the strain 20 which sucn
an emergency car p pu- 90 while
travelling a. grear speed
10 The Cadillac car purchased was
done so ~ saving or S525 10 the
department and this sum VIII he
used for the purchase ~ later
eote of an additional motorcycle.
The board has been contemplate
~ the purchase or another motorcy-
Clc bu, Withheld such action ne
81 cause 81 lack OF funds
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