New Britain herald., 1922-06-16
Has Served as Head of
 Local Police Depart . ment for Past Twenty
 Two Years
Tonight's Meeting of Com- missioners Will Be Execu- tive-1mportant Matters Coming Up.

retirement on a pension, when that body meets this evening, was stated this afternoon.
 Chief Rawlings decision to ask to be retired is not new idea with him, it is said, but has been held up for a long time. due to the constant stream of criticism which has been aimed at the police department and those in charge. However. the chief is said to feel now that in view of his advancing years and the delicacy of his health that he can no longer do justice to the position he holds or to himself Therefore, his request to be pensioned will come up for consideration to- night.
 That not only the present police board, but also the preceding con- missioners, had planned to take up the matter of pensioning of the chief, and possibly other members of the department has been an open secret for long time.
 At the meeting of the board earlier in the week it had been predicted that the chiefs retirement on pension
  sion, but the subject was not preached and it was announced that there would be another meeting tonight. This. in view of the many rumors. in- dicated that some action on pensions might come up at this time.
 Is Veteran Police Chief.
 Chief Rawlings is one of the vet eran police chiefs of New England. He has served in his, present capacity for the past 22 years
 Before becoming affiliated with the police department as chief. Chief Rawlings was active as town con stable and also years ago, he was a member of the fire department. He also served for many years as sexton of the First Baptist church, of which he is a member. He was also em- ployed, in years gone by, as a jeweler in the Porter and Dyson company.
 At the time of the Spanish Amer ican war Chief Rawlings was4a mem Der of the local militia and served at Camp Algers with the First and Second Connecticut regiments as a | lieutenant.
 Secret Meeting Tonight.
 Tonight's meeting of the police board will be strictly private. That it will be an executive session, was the statement made by members of the commission this afternoon. Tn explanation. they said that when the board organized and decided to admit o fn r,on jet; o<l that in the event the members had any business to trans act which they deemed best to trans act in private. executive sessions would be called.
 Discussing tonight's meeting. mem- hers of the board explained that ow- Ing to the extreme delicacy of sev- eral matters coming up for prolonged and detailed discussion. the members deem it unfair to individuals and against the best interests of the city md the department to have a public session.
 The police commission has adopt ad policy of not discussing matters other than at meetings of the board, md has not changed in it's stand" 'aid Chairman David L. Dunn, rela- i've to the meeting of the commission onight, Efforts to secure a line on he nature of the special session this venng, brought forth but little in ormation from Chairman Dunn.
 Interview States Attorney. I Persons acquainted with Chairman s Dunn are the authority for the state ( nent that he, in company with an ' other member of the commission, ' we're at Hartford last Wednesday. f While the chairman would not say I he nature Of this trip, it has been l reely reported that session with tate's Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn. was { leld. What transpired at this meet E ng will have to be guessed at, for the l ime being at least. T
 Anent Maietta Complaint
 Patrick F, King, chairman of the Id board of police commissioners tated a few weeks ago that it had ome to light that complaint had cen made to Lieutenant Samuel nearly two years ago. by | rank Maietta, who was killed by an o uto in Atlantic City some time ago, F hat A. J. Richardson, then men- C CT of the detective bureau, was mix | a up in a theft of liquor on the t. lsn highway near Wallingford. on c lay 20, 1920.
 When the board came into posses on of this information, it was put D to Chief Rawlings who said it c, as the first time that he had heard " f 1t. Later the board secured the cl atement, which is reported as being very complete affair as far as de- .. ills are concerned.
 The state police in the probe here st year, it is said, secured some Unable information concerning the cal police department and it's wHk- gs. It is therefore concluded that @ visit of the local commissioners the states attorney. may have had