The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-04-22

rate of speed. In fact, we only
have one now.
The seeming lack of coopera-
tive spirit has prevented any
safety meetings or group discus
sions for the good of the indivio-
ual officers or the public. ~
All of these, plus lack of in
formation regarding possible sus-
poets passing thru, prisoner treat
ment in the jail and the general
lack of cooperativeness by the
chief has disrupted the whole
Police force leaving the commun-
ity in a dangerous position with
out protection.
We are fortunate to have a
progressive Mayor, but progress
siveness is a result of combined
effort and cannot be accomplish
ed by one man alone.
The full text of the resolution
calling for the resignation of the
Chief of police is given below.
1T IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF KENNEWICK, WASH
INGTON, duly convened at a
regular meeting of the said Coun-
Gil, as prescribed bv Ordinance,
that the said City Council does
hereby ask Mitchell H. KerShaw,
present Police Chief of the City
of Kennewick, Washington to re-
sign from said position as Chief
of Police for the reasons as fol-
lows:
1. That the City Council recog-
nizes that the said Mitchell H.
Kershaw has been Chief of Police
for many years in the City of
Kennewick, Washington, and has
faithfully attended to his duties
to the best of his abilities, but
that recently, the City of Kenne-
wick has experienced an unprec-
edented growth which has made
it necessary to expand the Police
Department of the City o. 4>enne-
wick from force of one day man
and one night man to a regular
full-time Civil Service Police
Force, with men duly appointed
from the eligible list of the Civil
Service Commission. working
various shifts and that the direc-
ton of said Police Department
now requires a man of admins
trative ability with an adequate
background of police experience
and training.
2. That the said Mitchell H.
kershaw was appointed Chief of
Police prior to the days there
were three full-paid policemen on
the Kennewick Police Depart
ment, and that he continued as
Chief of Police under the Civil
Service laws when no change was
made after the police department
came under the regulation of the
Civil Service Commission, and that
he has never taken any examina-
ton or had any particular train
ing to qualify him as the Chief
OF Police of a Department of
over two people.
8. That continued friction and
loss of efficiency in the Police
Department under the manage
ment of Mitchell H. Kershaw has
definitely convinced the City
Council of the City of Kennewick.
Washington that it will be to the
best interests of the City of Ken
newick, If Mitchell H. Kershaw
is asked to resign, and Chief of
Police is duly selected from a list
OF eligib1es after a regular call
for applicants for appointment to
the position of Chief of Police of
the City of KenneWick, Washing
ton is made by the Kennewick
Civil Service Commission.
4. That the resignation of the
two oldest officers of the
kennewick Police Department
in the month of April, 1948
was due primarily to the lack of
a proper and qualified Chief of
Police in the City of Kennewick,
Washington and that it will be
impossible to organize and main
tain a satisfactory and efficient
Police Department in the City of
KenneWick. Washington until
change is made in the Office of
the Chief of Police.
S. That because of the recent
growth of the City of Kennewick
Washington, and the presence
within the said City of many
strangers and construction work.
! ers, very difficult police prob
lem has arisen, so that the City
Council feels an emergency may
he declared in the event that tho
Police Department is not admin
istered in a more capable man.
ner than in the past.
ToASTMISTRESSES