Evening star., 1946-04-14
0fSelecfing Personnel
Approved by Callahan

FOllCe superintendent harvey ".
Callahan told The Star last night
he approved use of civil service pro-
cedures in selecting policemen and
did not intend to convey the i'm
preston in testimony before the
House Jail investigating subcom-
mittee that the system hampered
him in dismissing incompetent per-
sonnel.
When Chairman Hebert of the
subcommittee asked Maj. Callahan
last Thursday about previous dis
ciplinary action against Hubert G.
Davis, policeman now suspended in
lconnection with the Medley-Mc-
Farland jail break, the official
transcript showed the following ex-
change:
@. And under civil service regu-
jations you could not dismiss him?
A. You cannot dismiss him arbi-
trarily; no, sir, not on the fact that
he has been previously convicted
three times. The man dismissed
from the police force arbitrarily for
something that is deemed insuffic-
lent cause has the right of appeal
to the Civil Service Commission. He
cannot appeal and say, I have arbi-
trarily been thrown out of job
Explains His Reply.
Maj. Callahan explained last night
he had meant by his reply that a
policeman dismissed after proper
hearing before trial board had no
recourse to the Commission, but a
man denied such a hearing could,
as civil service employe, bring such
denial to the attention of the Com
mission.
Commission officials pointed out
that the act of 1919 which placed the
Police Department under Civil Serv-
ice specifically places sole dismissal
powers in the hands of the depart
ment and the Commissioners.
The act authorizes police trial
board procedure in lieu of customary
civil service dismissal methods but
permits appeal only to the Com
missioners, whose decision Is final,
the officials emphasized.
The only exception to this pro-
cedure, it was said, would occur in
the case of a dismissed policeman
who was a veteran of World War II.
Under an act of 1914, applying to
all such veterans in Government
service. he could request and re-
ceive hearing at the Civil Service
Commission.
Work Comparatively.
Explaining his position last night
Maj. Callahan went on to say the
Commission and the Police Depart
ment had worked together co-opera-
lively over long period. The Com
mission always has shown a DISPOSE
tion to accept the departments rec
concentrations with respect to age
weight, height. educational require
ments and other specifications fol-
personnel, he added.
Maj. Callahan said he viewed civil
service as the only orderly method
Of selecting and advancing police
men and commented that he moved
up from the ranks under civil serv-
ice promotion procedures.
In another part of Thursdays
testimony, the last edition of The
Star on Thursday was in error on
the reporting of statement made
by Chief of Detectives Robert j.
Barrett. That edition Of The Star
said Inspector Barrett had told the
House investigators that he had in
formed Claude o. Botkin, superin-
tendent of the District Jail, and
Howard B. Gill. suspended super
of District penal institu-
tions, that the brains" of a safe
cracking gang had been operating
from inside the Jail.
Didn't Tell Gill.
On Friday, Inspector Barrett was
questioned on this testimony at the
Gill hearing, and denied having Civ
en- the testimony as reported by The
Star. He said he had informed Mr..