Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-19
OFFICER RUBAHA GUILTY;
IS SEVERELY PUNISHED

Rubaha was the first witness
sworn in by City Attorney Leo
Goldberger who assisted Alderman
Albert G.. Waters, chairman of the
police committee, in conducting the
trial. After hearing the charges
read to him in which Rubaha was
charged with sleeping on his post.
not properly %patrolling his post and
being intoxicated while on duty he
pleaded guilty" He made no de-
Tense except to say hat he had met
some friends in the afternoon while
off duty and they had Il few drinks.
He said he felt all right when he
started out on his tour of duty, but
later felt sick and went t. the rear
of a building on State street, where
he sat down against a fence ana
fell asleep. Sergeant Frank has-'
przak found him asleep II walk
ened him, the officer said.
Sergeant Kasprzak TESTIFIED that
he searched for Rubaha from LOU
to 1855, looking in all of the halls'
railroad yards and back yards along
the post until he located the oiilcer.
The sergeant said he had cautioned
the officer about drinking on pre-
vious occasions.
Alderman Clark inquired INTO
Rubaha's service record n was
| told by the officer that he had served
two years in the army during Whlci
time he was late Tor ron car.
Lieutenant william GAVIN the
next witness. TESTIFIED 10 na.Ins
warned Rubaha on several occasiUns
prior to his being suspended. ~.
lieutenant said his opinion was thal
-, -,a,l1 y,aEo a good OIlCeI
~ he would leave drink alone.
The accused officer told the mem
here of the police committee he was
sorry the incident occurred n de-
clared he had not touched a drop Oh
liquor since.
Chairman Waters told the officer
that hundreds of men are looking lor
the chance to secure a position u,
tbe notice force and these men r3ouid
never think of sacrificing their Jop
hv such actions as he has admitted.
The Board Of Aldermen is being
left open to criticism as the result
OF the officers actions, Alderman
clark said, he adding that there is
no reason why an officer cannot
an eight hour trick without 1aiilns
asleep. IF you were found asleep
on your post in the army you Wouiu
he sent to Fort Leavenworth II IL
IL happened to be in france you
would have been shot, the MIN
ward alderman said.
The fact that this is the ohlcers
first offense was brought out during
the trial as was also the fact that ne
has not yet been on the police force
one year.
The three members of the ponce
committee. Aldermen waters, Clarh
and Mcclure consumed conslderaplC
time before reaching an agreement
as 70 what penalty to impose. Wneh
fine police committee reported Alder
man BENJAMIN A. Riedy objected
declaring the fine to be too heavy.
He said it was the officers first OIL
Tense and Rubaha did not attempt
TO lie out of the charges and conse-
ouently he should be let off with a
lighter sentence. All of the other
members of the board voted in favor
of adopting the committees report
but Alderman Riedy passed on the
vote.
Patrolman Rubaha will go back on
the force at 7 o'clock tonight, work
ing the 7 to 3 o'clock Shift on Post
No. 13.
Prior to trying Rubaha, the police
! committee met in the chief once
for the purpose of taking up the
case of Patrolman Frank Tonghlnl
against whom certain accusations
were made. This officer was not
suspended but given a reprimand as
evidence in the case was not con-
sidered strong enough to try the Oh
fcer on charges.