New Britain herald., 1928-07-11
MAY SHIFT HOURS
 FOR LIEUT.. RIVAL
Night Desk Officer May Have
 Occasional Day Duty

Declaring that the system in th
 police department as 1t affects th
 hours of duty of Lieutenant Matthia
 Rival from midnight to a. m., i
 unfair Commissioner Harry E
 Morton asked at the meeting of tn
 police board last night for an OK
 rression of opinion by the othe
 commissioners and Chisf Hart rela
 tive to an arrangement whereby tht
 lieutenant would have an oecasiona
 chance to work in daylight.
 Chief Hart. who remarked that h.
 had not had any inkling Of the mat,
 ter in some time, replied that he diJ
 not favor a change because it would compel Lieutenant Samuel Bamfortl to take Lieutenant Rivals shit, 6 condition which struck the chief as incapable Of producing any good fol the department or an individual. He said. however. that if 1t was the wish of the board that changes be made he would be obliged to comply, and sfter a discussion it was decided to have the chief york out an arrange ment whereby Lieutenant Rival would be allowed different working hours at least part of the time. The chiefs report will be made at the next meeting Of the board on August :.
 Bringing up the matter. Commits sloner Morton said hs had telepilon- d the police station number of times late at night and Lieutenant Rival alN avs answered. He had also seen the lieutenant vending his way home after 5 o'clock every morning, and the thought occurred to him that there should be a different ar rangement There are two lieuten- ants in the department and it seem- cd to the commissioner that their hours could be equaiized to some extent,
 Chief Hart Opposes Change
 Chairman M w. Bannan said 1t might be a good idea to allow Lieu tenant Rival month on day duty every three months. and have ser geant take his desk shift In this way, the lieutenant would have a re- lief from the night hours and the department would benefit by having new desk man becoming familiar with the routine. Commissioner Morton thought this would be good arrangement but Chief Hart spiked it by pointing out that the principal argument employed in bringing about the creation of the lleutenancy which is held by Rival, about year ago. was that a rank ing officer should be in charge of Headquarters at all times. It would be inconsistent to revert to the old order of things within a year, he said.
 Maybe I'm too soft hearted" the chief said. But Sam Bamforth has been with us long time and he is an old man, too old, l believe, to lee put on the midnight to 8 a. m. shift. The ?. m. 10 midnight shift is by far the busiest night shift, hut the hours are considered more de- sirable, and should dislike very much to have to put him on the other shift"
 During the discussion that ensued, it was brought out through reference to the department records that Lieu tenant Bamforth became a member Of the supernumerary department in 1S93 and became a regular patrol man in 1895. In 1918 he became lieutenant after having been a de- tectiye sergeant. He will be 70 years of age this year. Lieutenant Rival became a supernumerary in 1912 and two years later was promoted to the l regular force. In 1922 he became a sergeant and on May i, 1927 he be- came q Lieutenant. With the pro- motion. however. his tour of duty 1 did not change.
 Chief Hart remarked that 1t would | be possible to give Lieutenant Rival 1 day shift without disturbing Lieu l tenant Bamforth by organizing q | liquor enforcement squad with Lieu tenant Rival in charge, but he as sured the commissioners that it would be miserable job' for the
  the lieutenant to special inyestiga- tions, but either way, the bugaboo of having a sergeant in charge of for eight hours would turn up. Chairman Bannan pointed out that a sergeant will be in charge while the lieutenant is on vacation and it would be possible to extend the sergeant's assignment 10 a full thereby allowing the lieuten- ant four weeks of day duty.
 Commissioners TomihoWski and Parker had little 10 say about the matter. but both favored having Chief Hart give t consideration dur ing the next few weeks. Com mis- sioner Morton assured the chief and he commissioners that there was dothing personal behind his sucges- ion but he felt Lieutenant Rival should have change in his shift