Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-01-28
Councilman and Police Chief
Meet To Compare Records
In Police Office

Claiming that there is wide
spread misunderstanding and con-
fusion here regarding his recent
verbal attack against the police
department, Councilman Eugene
Collins Tuesday night read a
statement in council chambers to
explain his action.
Collins stated that stories writ
ten by the editors of both local
newspapers were not entirely cor
rect "as some things were charg-
ed to me which l didn't say, and
, other words were left out which
should have been printed.
Before reading the statement,
Councilman Collins said: 81 want
to read this statement to see if
we can't get this matter cleaned
up for the satisfaction of every
! one".
In this statement, Collins states:
81 personally have never seen our
police chief or any member of the
police force take drink while on
duty, so it would not be possible
for me to make the charge that
the chief or any other member
was drunk.
Two weeks ago, at the council
meeting, Collins electrified the
city fathers and audience when he
implied that Police Chief Jack
Shelter or one of the policemen
had been intoxicated while on
duty. Chief Shelter emphatically
denied the implication that night
and Mayor Carl Becker stated no
action would be taken against
anyone unless definite proof was
given by a complaining witness.
In his statement, Councilman
Collins asked that the radio log
book, which is classified as secret
by Federal Communication Com
mission regulations, be brought to
the council chamber Tor the in
spection of all councilmen.
Chief Shelter told Mr.. Collins
that this record, which contains
running account of radio messag-
es, is secret document, but that
if special permission could be re-
ceived from the F. c. c., he would
be glad to show Collins the radio
log.
Mr.. Collins, in his statement,
emphasizes that 81 have accused
no one, and that he believes the
whole affair could be cleared up
by comparison of the radio log
with the daily police log, which is
not secret.
Chief Shelter invited Council
man Collins to stop at the police
office anytime and he would per-
sonally show him the records and
the record system.
Mr.. Collins answered That's
fine. I'll be up tomorrow. Shelf
fer and Collins were scheduled to
meet in the police office late We'd
nesday for the record session.
Councilman Collins statement
is as follows:
Collins Statement
when the people of Port Clin-
ton elected me to represent them
on City Council they had faith
enough in. me to believe l would
carry out the duty of Councilman
to the best of my ability. This 1
have tried to do. l know at times
might step on some ones toes,
but, assure you there is nothing
personal on my part. When | get
a complaint concerning the well
fare Of the city | do, as | believe
all the other members of Council
do, try to get to the bottom of
such complaints and rectify them.
II had a complaint about our
Chief of Police being intoxicated
while on duty. | personally have
never seen our Police Chief or any
member of the Police Force take
drink while on duty, so it would
not be possible for me to make
the charge that the Chief or any
other member was drunk. got
the complaint, | followed it thru
as l would any other complaint.
Last Council meeting night /
brought up the subject, and said
the records would prove whether
or not this charge might be true.
U did not say it would prove the
Chief was drunk. The Chief of
Police brought out the records
which showed Patrolman Don
Everett worked this trick. There
are two different sets of records.
When l asked to see the other set
of Records l was told this record
came under the control of the f.
c. c. and was not open for my in
| spection.
"At the last Council meeting I
asked for Officer Wright and Of
ficer Rahm to be brought to the
Council room. Ny reason for ask
ing for these two gentlemen to ap-
pear was to prove whether or not
there was any foundation for this
complaint, because / am under the
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