New Britain herald., 1923-11-01
Legalizes Appointment of
Three Patrolmen Whose
=.
Status Is Questioned
Names Man Past IS Years
of Age.

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At a special meeting of the board
of police commissioners last night
FIVE supernumerary policemen were
named regular patrolmen, the former
appointment OF three supernumerary
Ulcers to the regular force was
"legalizcd" and 1t was voted to ask
for bids for the repair or construc-
ton of a new stairway in the rear
of the court room. g."
Chairman David l.. Dunn presided.
He gave an opening address in which
he stated that it was his belief that
the police board is capable of run
ming IFS own affairs. He said that
the board derives its powers, the
same as the. common council does,
from charter granted by the legis-
lature of the state. The chairman
said that upon investigation he had
found that the police board. previous
to the last session of the legislature,
had all the powers in appointing pa
trolmen. He said that while civil
service was in force the age limit was
fixed at 40 years. The common coun-
ell. he said, then passed an ordinance
making the age limit 35 years and
this ordinance was passed before any
member of the present board took
Office. The members of this board
we're never properly notified that the
ordinance had ever been passed. he
claimed.
The civil service board relieved the
commissioners from responsibility.
Chairman Dunn said, but since that
has been done away with the police
board is fairly coEnizant OF all or
dinances relative 10 tho police de-
partment,
Who Runs Police Department?
Continuing Chairman Dunn said:
Now comes the situation as 10
whether or not We can run the po-
lice department or must 20 10 the
council. In my opinion the police
board is a body which should govern
the police department. Under our
charter We are given broad powers
and especially is this true since the
last charter amendments were made.
ono of which did away with civil
service thereby changing the duties
and powers of the police board"
Chairman Dunn said he referred 10
the section Of the paragraph which
reads shall appoint all onieers,
members and employees of said de.
rartment."
Commissioner Thomas =. jackson
said that In view NJ the fact that the
corporation counsel decided that tho
OF three men 10 the
force mas illegal there Is no other
course 10 pursue but TO "legalite" the
3 appointments and therefore moved
that surernumerary Policemen stan.
ley Domhrousk. John o'Rrien and
Ioaeph Moore be appointed regular
patrolmen 10 become effective No
vnmher 1. Tn these cases" 'he com.
missioner said" we viii suspend our
rules governing the appointment Of
+
Commissioner tanEs said that /
when the men were appointed by The
,oard there vas no doubt IN The
minds of the members that they we're
egslly appointed. He said that the
common council. after tho men had
ler,ed two years. found they were
,per the az. limit The commissioner
aid that n war not fair ~ thros
herr men out Of work and Mr..
rscIsnn's motion var unanircublw
dopted
rive Sew Regular Named
The appointment of h"e new men
p tho regular police force vas rsxt
sken under consideration On mo
ion Of Commissioner tango. David
,otv OF Is wilson street vas ths hrst
nan appointed. He IL 30 yosrs OF age
md his last appointment - tho