The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-25
MAYOR ON DEFENSE
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resignation, Immediately upon rein
statement.
So the mayor and commissioners
STALLED" from 3 o'clock until 4:3O,
and then went their ways, to meet
again at $50 o'clock.
In the meanwhile, the missing chief
of police was located and rehearsed.
His resignation was all written up.
With the cast letter-perfect and
ready to go. the meeting was held at
perfect, even to the settings and stage
management.
The commission has never called a
witness before it. Mayor Herbert J.
Corwine and City Attorney Ralph
O'Neil did the actual investiga ting.
sion baked on making its own recon-
mendation.
O'Nei presented his evidence. in the
form of affidavits, to the commission
day afternoon, and the chief made
answer.
On the strength of the evidence
produced in the investigation by Cor
wine and O'Neil, the commissioners
felt justified to take action on the
recomme ndation of the mayor. But
they did not make any recommenda-
ton of their own.
The letter having been read. the
mayor recommended, the commission
acted, and the play was over.
The deadlock on the point of who
should make the recommendation
was the monkey wrench in the ma
chinery of the hearing which wasn't
held.
Wanted-A Recommendation.
Neither the mayor nor the commits
sion was willing. and the commission
couldn't act without a recommended
ton.
The net results of the "upheavar'
81 ha
court. the elimination of professional
bondsmen and the resignation of the
chief of police.
1t remains to be seen IL the playlet
in one act will become an annual
event, like the May fetes.
Chief Swallows Statement.
Chief Swallow issued the following
statement last night:
A study of the history OF the police
department Of Topeka will reveal to an
a good one and that for the past year il
has made an excellent record-more ar
more regulations have been enforced than
Topeka is one OF the best regulated and
safest cities in the United States.
1t is unfortunate that prohibitory cases
cannot be so conducted that one less ap-
peal could be taken to the higher courts,
but in the nature of police affairs it is
the policeman who sees them first"
The police department. has been very &C
tive for the past year. The police have
made the arrests and furnished convicting
evidence in more than 200 cases which were
turned over directly to the state and gov
eminent for prosecution This course was
necessary because the department cannot
try cases where a penitentiary or reforma-
tory sentence follows a conviction. Nor
can the department handle any cases
cept those Of a minor character.
There have been 4,226 arrests made by
the police department during the past year
and SCI, SS7.16 was collected in fines, rough
" so per cent more than was ever before
collected in police history in a similar
period. Two hundred and sixty liquor
cases were handled. So far as I know no
place or person was immune-and / am
not pleading ignorance
1 am proud of the record made by the
Topeka police force under my leadership.
l believe in and my record is testimonial
to nv belief in law enforcement
Topeka policemen compare favorably
with an equal number of officers in ap-
pearance. looks. dress, actions and intelli-
gence. I have seen them tried for bravery
and for charity, and they have not been
found wanting.
While regretting the necessity for this
statement l sure that an intelligent
and conscientious investigation will con-
vince any citizen that If mistakes have
been made they were errors OF Judgment.
Respectfully,
G. A SWALLOW.