New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-03-14
POLICE DISCIPLINE
COMMITTEE NAMED
Hearings Dispensed With For
Minor IniractionS Of Rules


Thomas +, Jackson were appointed I
serve on a discipline committee whic
WILL In the future, hear all charge
of a minor nature brought agains
= any policeman and will then recon
mend TO the board what the punish
mcnt should he.
1t will be tho duty of the commit
tee to hear all minor complaints
make Investigations and report to tn
board. II the cases warrant 1t III
policemen in question will be brough
before the board for hearings az II
the past, but If the cases are of I
minor nature the board will act OF
the recommendation Of the discipline
committees
At several previous meetings Their
has been discussion in regard t
organizing a discipline committee. ]
was the belief of the commissioner
last night that it is not essential tina
all officers charged with minor of
fence be brought before the entir'
board and for this reason the disci
pline committee was organized.
Policeman Fined Two Days Pay
Supernumerary Policeman Edward
Peterson was fined two days pay or
the charge of falling asleep while OF
duty. Chief Hart reported to thu
board that Peterson had fallen asleeI
on the night of February II on Bea
2l. He rang in his last alarm q
minutes late.
Officer Peterson told the commits
- 3l,a@ ha II had han.
pened but he was guilty. He said
that he went into the East stree
school to get his lunch and while II
the building fell asleep. The police
man said that he was not feeling wei
at the time and for II days following
was i'll with the grip.
Commissioner Parker moved thai
the accused be suspended. for period
of 60 days but Commissioner Lange
and jackson believed that penalty
would be too severe. Mr.. Parker ex-
planned that the 60 days suspension
could begin from the time Chief Hart
suspended the officer The chief re-
piled that The man was not placed
under suspension by him. Mr.. Par
ker then thought that 10 days would
be sufficient
Commissioners Jackson and Lange
still believed that the sentence was
too severe and upon recommendation
of Mr.. jackson, Mr.. Parker changed
his motion to read that he be fined
two days pay"
Commissioner Parker stated that
he thought too many men were fall
ing asleep while on duty and upon
questioning Chief Hart learned that
four men had been guilty Of this Of
tense within the past year.
Dolan Wants to Get Back
| The application of Thomas Dolan
for reinstatement in the department
was next read. Dolan was a super
numerary for a period of two years
and a patrolman for four years. He
resigned because of i'll health.
! A certificate signed by DR.. George
H. Dalton accompanied the applica-
! ton stating that the man was now in
the best of health. 1t was moved
that the application be accepted but
no further action was taken as there
was considerable discussion as to
whether or not Dolan can be rein
stated without taking the civil serv-
ice examinations The opinion 81 the
corporation counsel will be asked.
No action was taken on the verbal
application of Gustave Litke to be re-
instated.
Chief Wants Adding Machine
Chief Hart brought up the purchas-
ing of an adding machine for the po
lice department. He stated that it
will aid greatly in the general office
work, particularly in making out the
payroll. In justice to business con-
Germs in town few machines will be
tried out in the police headquarters
and the matter of purchasing an add
ing machine was left in the hands of
Commissioner David i. Dunn and
Chief Hart with power.
Time on For Policemen
The matter of granting days off
during the month to policemen was
the next question to occupy the at
tention of the commissioners. Chief
Harris opinion was asked and he said
that he would recommend that one
day at time be granted to the po-
licemen with an equal number of
days between times so that they would
all be given days off a month. Com
missioner Jackson was in favor of the
plan suggested by Chief Hart as he
did not believe the days should be al
lowed to accumulate and then be TAX
en- at one time.
No action was taken in the matter
but it was the general opinion of the
commissioners that Chief Hart should
follow out the plan he suggested. 1t
was also recommended that men who
were off on sick leave could work
on their regular days off il they SO
desired.
Will Try to Keep Expenses Down
A communication from Mayor An
gelo M. Paonessa was read with a |
resolution asking the board of police
commissioners to keep within their
appropriation in the budget for the |
year 1923-1924. 1t was voted that the |
board do its best to keep within the
budget unless some emergency arises |
when it might be necessary to spend
additional money. In this case it will
be necessary to get the approval of
the mayor and the finance committee.
Bills amounting to S1,110.50 were
approved as was Chief Harris monthly
report.