Evening star., 1932-10-05
Police Chief Prepares Plea
After Failure to Force
Retirement.
DETERMINED TO SHIFT
INSPECTOR FROM JOB
Superintendent to GO Before Com.
missioners Soon to Request
Approval of Change.

Defeated in an attempt to oust In
Spectcr Frank S. w. Burke by the re-
tirement route. Brig. Gen. Pelham D.
Glassfcrd, superintendent of police, an
nounced today he would seek the ap-
proval OF the Commissioners for re-
moval OF the detective chief to another
position in the department.
Findings of the board of police and
IRE surgeons which subjected Burke to
a rigid physical examination make it
impossible for the police retiring board
legally to retire him for physical dis
abilities. Burke, therefore, must re-
main in the department, but Gen.
Glassford said he will not continue as
chief OF detectives if he can prevent it.
Ihe official report of the boards find-
ings was submitted early this afternoon
to Inspector L. l. H. Edwards. assistant
superintendent and personnel officer.
Only the conclusions were made pubic.
In the opinion OF the Board OF
Surgeons, the report said this man
Is physically fl for regular duty"
The report was signed by Dr. Daniel
L. Borden, chairman of the board
as assistant superintendent and assign
ing him to other duties will be prepared
before the end Of the week, Gen. Glass
ford said. and submitted to the Com
missioners in time for action at the
semi-weekly board meeting Tuesday.
Gen. Glassford confidently expects ap-
proval of the order
Action Due on Davis.
Gen. Glassford also is said to be con-
templating sending another order to the
Commissioner for approval-an order
that would denote Inspector o. T.
Davis to the rank of captain. Davis,
the first victim of the drastic police
reorganization plan. was transferred
last week as head of the Crime Pre-
yentlon Bureau to commanding officer
OF the second inspection district.
Gen. Glassford would neither deny
nor affirm the report that he plans to
denote Davis. but from reliable sources
1t was learned he considered such a
step several days ago, but wanted to
await the outcome of the Burke case
before taking definite action.
Maj. Gen. Herbert 3. Crosby. Com
missioner in charge of police, conferred
with Gen. Glassford this morning at
the District Building. but the impend-
Ing personnel changes were not dis
cuSsed. At the suggestion of Gen. Cros-
by. all questions of personnel, Gen.
Glassford said, were deferred until next
week, when the Commissioners propose
to give full consideration to the Burke
case and other changes that may be
recommended
The report of the Medical Board,
showing Burke physically fit for con-
tlnued service, apparently did not sur
prise Gen. Giassford. Burke likewise.
was not surprised, since he had ex-
pressed the belief, when the six physi-
clans on the Board of Surgeons had
finished with him, that he passed the
examination.
Decision Unchanged.
Gen. Glassford emphasized that the
findings of the Medical Board would in
no wise change his decision to remove
Burke as head Of the Detective Bu-
reau, and place in this important posi-
tion Capt. Edward j. Kelly, veteran
criminal investigator
i have not changed my mind one
Bit" he said.
The report of the physicians. how
ever. changed Burke's plans. He now
intends to fight Gen. Glassford's ef-
forts to remove him. and is making
preparations to 60 before the Commits
sioners next week and seek public vim
dication OF the police superintendent
charges that he failed to cooperate
with him.
Inspector Burke thus far has not re-
ceived copies of the two reports Gen.
Glassford submitted to Commissioner
Crosby outlining his reasons for shak-
ing-up the Detective Bureau
Until / see those reports" Inspector
Burke said, Il will not be able to pre-
pare my defense because I don't have
the slightest idea what Gen. Glassford
told the Commissioners. All know is
what / have read in the papers"
The Police Retiring and Relief Board
will meet at 2 pm. tomorrow in the
board room of the District Building to
consider the report of the Medical
Board. In view of the findings, how
ever, the board. it was said, must reject
Burke's application for retirement.
Burke said he filed the application,
assuming Gen. Glassford had the ap-
proval of the Commissioners when he
told him to apply for retirement or else
accept a demotiou. After filing the
application, he declared, he learned
Gen. Glassford had acted on his own
initiative, and for that reason ne pro-
poses to fight the move to oust him
The police situation will be discussed
at dinner of the Public Order Com
mittee of the Washington Board Of
Trade Monday at $50 pm Several po-
lice officials are expected to attend.
Odell S. Smith. chairman of the COM
mittee, recently criticized Gen. Glass
ford for his efforts to oust Inspector
Burke without giving good reason.