New Britain herald., 1922-06-10

| Indications are. according to thos'
 who have their car close to th'
 ground to sound out civic happenings
 that q shake-up in the police depart
 ment Is coming, despite the protesta
 tions of ignorance by members or th'
 police commission and their asserr
 tions that they have not discussed such possibilities.
 In the first place, 1t is an oper secret that even before he had th'
 mayoralty bee buzzng in his bonnet A. NJ. Paonessa was not entirely 1T
 sympathy with the workings Of ths policemen and the way they wert | handled. More than year ago he Il known to have made disparging re
 marks about the department and tts management. Even then, 1t Is said he made statements relative to tht advisability of pensioning off severa of the officials who had been long 1T the service. In this connection 1t is commonly reported that his honor has moi changed his mind, but on the other hand is even more determined to gel new blood in the police department With this openly hostile attitude oi the mayor. and the knowledge that in the past at least, the mayor has made his will the will of his commis- sions. it Is expected generally, and predicted confidently by some, that a shake-u will occur ere long.
 It is common talk that Chief w. j. Rawlings, the venerable veteran of many years as chief will be relieved of the arduous duties of his position and placed on the pension list If this does happen. the thought of pro- motions comes up automatically and according to the dope along the street, Sergeant William c. Hart is the man who is slated for the berth
 It is not impossible. however, that opposition to the appointment of Hart might spring up and some demo- crats are known to have advanced the suggestion of going out of town for a new chief if one is to be chosen. Without going into the merits, pro or con. of this suggestion, the plan, as explained, would be to engage some experienced and capable police vet elan who has been pensioned by one of the big cities like New York. The sponsor of this idea claims that such a man would come here without fav- orites. with big city methods and re- organize the department without fear or favor.
 Another matter the police connis- sion is expected to settle within a short time is the disposition of the so-called "vice squad" This squad admittedly has done its work and done it we'll Never was the city as clean, morally or in regards liquor law violations, as it is now. In view of this fact it is thought by some that the police commissioners will advise the return to active street duty of the vice squad and order every patrolman to be a self-appointed watch-d dog for hootch emporiums on his beat. This is what the chief of the New Haven police department has done and it is not unlikely that New Britain will take the Elm City case as prece- dent.
 Just what effect such action would have is problematical According to one way of looking at it, those who are disposed to violate the liquor law might interpret the disbanding of the vice squad is an unofficial declara ton that the lid is off" go as far as you like, providing you don't go too far.
 Another suggestion which may come before the police board is half formulated plan whereby the older patrolmen, in line for pensions, might