Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-01-14
Councilman Charges Misde-
meanOrs BY Police Hurt
Staff Efficiency

anu VI iiAo swain
had been intoxicated while on duty,
City Councilman Eugene Collins
caused an uproar Tuesday night
at the regular council session.
Called from a meeting of the
Volunteer Policemen being held
downstairs, in the city hall, Police
Chief Shelter vehemently denied
that he had ever been drunk while
on duty and that to the best of his
knowledge, none of his staff was
ever intoxicated while on duty.
Mayor Carl Becker and the other
five city councilmen, Harold Neil
sen, Carl Waggoner, Paul ,Schmitt,
julius Jensen and William Goebel
challenged Collins statements and
emphatically defended Chief Shelf
fer and Policemen John Wright,
Lloyd Rahm and Donald Everett.
Mayor Becker and Councilman
Nielsen, a former member of the
police department, were especially
outspoken in their defense of the
city police.
Collins, who has made numer-
Gus complaints about the police de-
partment since he took office last
| year, opened his attack when he
asked why the speeding conditions
haven't been stopped in this city.
When Collins suggestedSthat the
Auxiliary Police be used to ar
rest speeders, he was quickly in
formed that these volunteer work
ers do not have the power of ar
rest unless they are in police uni
form and if riding, in cars correct
ly-lettered as required by law.
Walter Krupp, member of the
Auxiliary Police, told Collins he
would not permit his personal car
to be, 80 lettered, and he doubted :
if any other member would permit
such lettering.
Police Chief Shelter told Collins
that everything possible was being
done to curb speeding. "We are
putting up stop signs, arresting
violators and levying fines," he
stated. -Four violators were ar
rested for speeding in Perry street
last week..
Collins also criticized the fact
that the police cruiser was at the
scene of the accident Christmas
Eve when six persons were killed
in Route 2. He also contended
that the patrolman in the car lack
ed the ability to give first aid to
injured persons.
Shelter answered that the cruis-
er was called to the scene for aux
iliary help. "rhis was the most
serious accident in years and every
law enforcement officer was need
ed. We were merely helping to
save lives as the traffic dangers
were high" Shelter, Becker and
other officials told Collins that
anyone who gives first aid must be
licensed, due to possible liability
suits.
Collins also mentioned that one
Of the policemen could not oper-
ate the resuscitator two years ago
in drowning case. Shelter told
him that patrolmen must drill with
the resuscitator every three
months so that they are familiar
with it's operation.
Claiming that there is dissen-
sion in the police ranks and that
the chief has no control over his
staff because he gets drunk while
on duty, Collins specifically ask
ed for police records of January
25, 1948.
A check of records for that date
shows that Everett, Wright and
Rahm were on duty and the only
event of Importance was minor
auto accident at Perry and Madi-
son.
In summing up his stand Chief
Shelter stated, 81 have nothing
to hide in my behavior. We can't
arrest everyone for minor VIOLA
tions but we do our best to ar
rest the fragrant violators."
Councilman Nielsen stated that
the police have made minor mis-
takes but that "there is no perfect
police department in the world
just as there is no perfect person.
Mayor Becker told Collins II
know there is friction within the
police department, but I'll stick
with Chief Shelter as Pm sure he
is doing a good job.
Contending that much of Col
Inns information is coming from
a local man with an AK to grind"
Mayor Becker told Collins to bring
the complaining witness to coun-
Gil meeting.
"Unless we find your charges
are correct, / shall take no disci-
plinary action against any mem
Der of the police staff" Becker
told Collins. Other members of
the council appeared to join in his