New Britain herald., 1923-08-25
POLICE BOARD Will
SEEK INVESTIGATION
All Commissioners Approve At
titude Of Chairman on Probe

/
Of police commissioners held last night
It was the decided opinion of each one
that If the veto of the mayor, relative
to the appointment of a committee to
investigate the police board and police
department, is sustained by the COM
mon council and either the present
committee or new committee Is not
appointed to continue the investiga-
ton, the board of police commission
ers should demand a complete investi-
cation of the board and the depart
ment. 1t was announced In the Her
aid" last week that the board would
adopt this course.
Commissioner Thomas F. jackson
stated that as long as the common
council started the thing in the first
place and wants an investigation and
as long as a cloud has been thrown
over the departments head, he was
of the opinion that an investigation
should be demanded.
II want to see this thing through"
he said, because there have been
some insinuations made that do not
bring credit to the board and the de-
partment, and 1 believe that they
should be cleared up" Commissioner
Jackson said that IL the council fails
to carry out its intentions he will in
troduce resolution before the board
asking that 1t demand an Investigation
to be made.
Commissioner Lange said that there
has been a great deal of talk about
the probe on the streets and in shops
and he heartily agreed with Commits
sioner Jackson. He said that they are
talking about men 40 and so years of
age who have been named regular po-
licemen and who in reality are 80
years old.
Commissioner Parker and Chairman
David L. Dunn both stated that it was
unfair to the board to have stories
about it circulated about town and
each agreed that the investigation
should be made in order to get at the
bottom of the subject.
Palmer's Application Faulty
The board failed to appoint Atwood
erary force and it is doubtful If he
will be able to play with the coppers
in the Meriden baceball game. Pal
mer's application, with others, was
tabled because the proper birth certi-
ficate did not accompany the applica-
lion. The rules of the department de-
nand proof of age.
The commissioners received appli-
cations for appointments to the super
force as follows: John Rap
,anotti, 70 Elm street; Felix Faltin,
'91 Arch street; William J. Mccarthy,
2 Gilbert street; Atwood G. Palmer.
rhe first application was referred to
chief william C. Hart to investigate
Is to the applicants age and he will
,e asked to appear before the board
It the September meeting. The Faltin
APPLICATION was tabled to investigate
Why he left the department few
ears ago.
Chief Hart who was present at the
Meeting, stated that Palmer did not
eek the appointment at the present
ime merely to play on the baseball
cam. He said that he intended to be-
ONE a policeman year ago. The
hief further stated that he did not
hink Palmer would be eligible to play
4 the Meriden games and he express
d the belief that the Meriden team
rould object to his playing If he was
ppointed.
Not "After" Lieutenant
Chairman Dunn said that report
as circulated about town time ago
, the effect that the commissioners ,
ere "after" the lieutenant. He is
led "a statement denying the report
nd said that it was absolutely untrue.
e said that he spoke for the entire ]
oard and If he was wrong, he /
fought this was the time to talk ,
bout it. None~of the commissioners ,
on the matter. II
AS the meeting was about to close
Parker inquired wheth- {
: members of the police department |
lould appear before the common
,uncil investigation committee, in the
rent that such a committee is ap- [
ointed. Chairman Dunn stated that
lie police board has charge of the 6
,lice departments and all complaints s
grievances should be made to the ]
BARD. If necessary, he said, men,
'rs of the department can be in IN
ructed not to appear before the COM
ittee 1JnInes fhox haxYn |