New Britain herald., 1923-12-10
POLICEMAN VICTIM
 OF HOAX. HE SAYS
Peterson Hints Fellow Officers
 Planted Drunk" on His Beat
THEN SPIRITED HIM AWAY
Commission to Considers Hints of Suspicion Tomorrow Night-Ncw Created-Wage Raise Discussion.

It is understood that Supernumer- ary Policeman Edward Peterson is convinced that he was the victim of hoax perpetrated by other members of the force when man whom he had placed under arrest was spirited away while he was telephoning for the patrol A report on the Peterson case will be made at a meeting of the police commission tomorrow night by the discipline committee, which gave Peterson a hearing last week.
 Peterson arrested a man whom he supposed to be drunk and left him in charge of a stranger while he went to the office of the Corbin Screw Corpor- ation to notify police headquarters to send the patrol. When he returned to the spot the man he had arrested had ''sappoared. It 'T said that Peterson aLa at .tNe 3e'aring before the dis
 Lib,+" ,u .se, that he believed he
 Imed up" by brother off,
 8 Chat the drunk" was not un the influence of liquor but was simply playing a role to get Peterson in trouble. Whether the discipline committee was impressed by his story is not known but all the facts in the case will be reported to the commits sion.
 Peterson was also before the com- mittee to explain his failure to arrest a man who had 6 revolver in his pos- session with Petersons knowledge.
 May Name Lieutenant of Detectives
 It was learned on good authority today that the matter of creating a lieutenant's position in the detective bureau of the police department will come up for discussion at the ergular meeting of the commissioners tomor- row night. It is understood that mem- bers of the board have seriously con- sidered the advisahlity of creating such a berth in the department and now feel that some definite action should be taken.
 New Britain is one of the few cities in the state which does not have a lieutenant or captain at the head of its detective bureau. Sergeant William r. McCue is acting as chief of the de- tectivcs but has no official title. He was placed in charge of this depart ment by Chief William c. Hart, who formerly held that position.
 NIc1uc in Line for Promotion
 The creation Of the berth would place one man officially in charge of the detectives with sergeants and pa- trolmen working under him. Although Sergeant McCue shoulders all respon- Of the detective bureau he does not receive more pay than other sergeants in the department. Because of the work which has been accom- plished by Sergeant McCue if is thought that he would be in line for the new position.
 Should the board favorably act on creating the heutonant's berth it is expected that if will drog up a reso- lution or recommendation to be pre- sented at the next meting of tho common council to be considered by that body.
 Approval of inc patrolmcn's re- 1uest for ten per cent increase m wages is also expected at the meeting tomorrow night. Although Chief Hart las made on request for an increase n pay and is not inclined to discuss .he subject with newspapermen if is believed that tho commissioners will -avor granting an increase from s?7o0 o s35oo year. 1t is felt by many hat the chief Of police is underpaid or the great amount of work required n his position.