Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-30
CHIEF OF POLICE HIT
BY POLICE UPHEAVAL
CONTINUED from paga II

1 y
as mayor, should Immediately do
your duty and take control and the
| police committee will then be re-
lieved of it's many hardships and
tasks. The police committee does
/ not intend to operate under rules
and regulations !. .hich apply to
everyone but the mayor and the
chief of police, and it certainly can
not be intended that you, as mayor,
may use the police department to do
| pleasant favors and then shirk the
other duties which are not so pleas
ant.
1.-THE present police committee has
had considerable trials and tribula-
tions and work with the depart
ment, and at all times has endeavor-
! ed to encourage obedience and dis
cipline among the police 1t does
not intend to operate il you, on the
other hand, disregard the rules,
i which as mayor you approved, any
time you choose. So long as these
rules are in effect the chief of police
| must abide by the rules and regula-
tions of the department the very
same as any other member of the
police force, or charges will follow.
1t is very unfair to hold every other
member of the force to these rules
and regulations and the resultant
penalties, and at the same time en-
courage violations by the chief.
"If the present rules and regula-
tions do not apply, ard your actions
surely indicate this, it is for you to
take over the duties of the police
committee and you should imnne-
diately recommend to the council
that 1t rescind the present rules and
regulations in order that you may
have complete control and RESPONSE
bility.
"My position in this matter is sim
Iply that I consider 1t my duty, as
matters now stand, to enforce the
rules and regulations OF the depart
ment, with no exceptions.
eff you do not agree with me, then
please make a request OF the Board
of Aldermen to rescind these rules
and regulations at Monday nights
meeting.
"I am giving a copy of this COM
nunica ton to The Perth Amboy
Evening News, since that paper OBJ
tanned information from you and
the chief as to the Hanson retire.
nent and detail of Officer Riedy.
Yours very truly,
POLICE COMMITTEE,
"a. G.. WATERS,
Chairman"
Upon receiving the above letter
Mayor Wilson at once wrote to the
aldermen asserting that he has not
been satisfied with the manner in
which the police department has
been managed lately, declaring that
the chief has been chief in name
only.
Believing the chief to beperfectly
capable of handling the duties of his
office, the mayor states, he has e.
fused twice to consider the resig-
nation of Chief Tonnesen.
The letter informs the aldermen
that as soon as the mayor has taken
charge of the police department
Chief Tonnesen will be the head of
the department in reality as we'll
as in name.
The mayors letter to the council
follows:
"March 80, 1928.
"To the Honorable Board of Alder
men.
"Gentlemen:-
''I write this letter to you as I am
not satisfied with the way in which
the police department has been con-
ner in which the department has
been handled, the chief has been
chief in name only. The chief has
had his resignation before me on two
different occasions during the past
year but I failed to take action upon
them. I have every confidence in
the chief as being thoroughly capa-
bic of handling the Office as it should
be conducted.
"When chairman of the police
committee for two years under the
late Chief Burke I never interfered
with him in the conduct OF that
office. AS the mayor / have had full
confidence that the police committee
was able to run the department until
the past year.
'I am at this time serving notice
on the Board of Aldermen that 1
will take charge of the police depart
ment as its head on and after the
| first day of April, as provided for by
law and SO ruled by the supreme
court, so that everyone will know
that Chief Tonnesen will be at the
head of the police department pro-
| per.
Respectfully yours.
"W. c. WILSON,
Mayor"
MY reason for taking this ac-
| ton" Mayor Wilson said this morn
| ing, sis because 1 have learned that
| the chairman of the police COM
| 1nittee has served notice upon the
| chief that he will be brought up
| on three different charges. It is Gus
! tomary for the mayor to take such
| action, If it is deemed necessary and
| not the duty Of the chairman of the
| police committee to present charges.
| After twenty-three years of service
| feel that this action is an abso-
| Lutte disgrace to Chief Tonnesen, the
| department and the city at large.
This controversy between the may
or and Alderman Waters has been
going on for some time, Chief Ton
| nesen having received orders from
both men. Often these orders con-
| flicted and it was a question in the
| mind of the chief which order to
| obey. The selection OF Patrolman
| Riedy, son Of the alderman, to sue
| ceed Traffic Officer Hansen in the
booth at Fayette street and New
| Brunswick avenue proved to be all
| that was necessary to cause the
smouldering difference of feeling as
to who was in authority, to burst
! forth into fame.
Mayor Wilson today made public
two letters he received from Alder.
man Waters with reference to the
| Riedy matter, both of which are
published herewith:
March IS, 1928
Mayor William C. Wilson,
| ~