The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-16

glcCCooUl w
Grated today at Wilmington
rrnofficial speculation started at,
TO name various lieutenaats,
0 nrseants and privates to fill the
S.eancy which will become real
Won Casteen steps down.
VII r;+v Councilman Robert LeGWin
is also city treasurer said
WV the Council had run into
p seoroe obstacles before while adj
.srina closely to the seniority sys-
lsm Of making such an appoint
Wv rt when he expressed the opin-
that naming a successor to
W. r.,teen should be taken up at
ssre by the Council.
al Mo laws of North Carolina pro-
~ there shall be a "considera-
n Wv given seniority Of members of
au' farce for such services"
Mo act as read by Col. Royce
,1ar1eIland, attorney and Police
asrartm ent representative,
gstes: "AIl promotions in the fire
'sd police departments in Will
a sur shall be provided by the
a.rerning body Of the city on its
t"n initiative, or upon a recon-
..ndation of the chief of such de-
a.r,ment with due consideration
ssag given fitness and qualifica-
Yons for such promotion, and
..a;oritv for such services"
chief Casteen has said that he
Ill mot make a recommendation
mr. his successor.
roI. McClelland says the ap-
,ortment will have to be made
+ compliance with this law, I'M
,.,, there is a change between
,.n, and time the appointment is
The law. he says, is as binding
HE csc as to the city's govern
ts body.
Colonel McLelland also said that
10 had not decided on a pref
,rsnce for the position, and prob
,bv would not prior to the sub
mission of names by the City
Council. He added that he did not
have the names of any men sug-
rested or approved by Council.
As z whole the members of the
hrce favor the selection by the
miority method. it also was
harmed unofficially.
II was pointed out by the rec
rds and by individual members
Of the force that Lieut.. o. Vance
thompson has the highest senior
lily,
The veteran policeman came to
Ne department. in June of 1912
ind resigned after seven years
prvice in 1917. He returned to the
hrce in 1928, giving him a total
d Is years with n interruption.
He served with the Seaboard Rail
toad as police officer for two
years.
Lieut.. Thompson said today that
he would accept the appointment
I i was offered him, stating that
he felt he could execute the duties
u such an office. He would con-
Ider it an honor, he said.
Sergeant E. F. Bradshaw who
tame to the department in 1918,
about the same time as Casteen,
has % years seniority which is I'M
Interrupted, according to the
records.
Bradshaw has the favor of
many policeman who say that he
Is as fine a man as there is on
HE force"
Sergeant W. R. Zibelin is next
IN seniority with 20 years, coming
TO the force in 1927 and has
lTved continuously. Force mem
brs also spoke favorably of him.
Private ]. R. "Cooney'' Sellers
has 10 years continuous service
With the department having
come TO the force in 1923. He was
Up IN the ranks to sergeant at one
lne' but requested the rank Of
4 private. it was said.
Sergeant Louis A. league Of the
effective force has been with the
afce since 1929; Lieut. Hubert
Hays has served continuously
vince 1882; Sgt E. J. Hale since
si' Sgt. E. B. Murray since
sb' and Sgt. J. T. Rich, since
u fO. All have more than 10 years.
hrvice.
Named as likely to succeed Cas-
ssn' IN case those above him are
nl named, was Lieut.. T. B.
aaSnes who came to the depart
len( III 1882 and has a continuous
record.
Lieutenant Hughes has said thai
Sould accept the chiefs job,
appointed, but stressed the point
a, whoever takes over should
III, %1OFn strictly to a non-parti
No.. practice among the men.
NJ. @sat EN- all alike" Hughes
,..1 ana there'll never be any
y" NJ. lflctlon among the men,"
w., Se1' IN line is Lieut.. Coy Ethe.
Isse' viewed by some as the mos
Tsrty "campaigner."
,, mm,efldge admitted that he
M mug IKE to have the job of chief
JAILED to name a preference