Evening star., 1952-02-09
Communications Center Set Up|Buke, Former Chief
ln Rail Corfor Trumons TroyeIs|0f detectives Denies
OF Detectives, Denies
Using Easy Way Out

\
Frank S. Burke, former chief Of
detectives in the District, said to-
day his physical disability retire.
ment In 1896 was not IAN example
|of a police officer taking an easy
way out"
Mr.. Burke's retirement was
cited yesterday in The Star, In the
first Of q series of articles on the
physical disability retirement sys-
tenn.
The article said former Police
Chief Pelham d. GlasSford sought
Mr.. Burke's removal for disability
but was turned down by the Board
|of Police and Fire Surgeons.
The Burke case was cited as one
instance in which an effort to ease
|a man OF the force by disability
retirement failed. The story
added:
Issues Statement.
later, in 1886, Mr.. Burke re-
tired for physical disability, went
to Florida for a year for his
health and then returned and an
luounced he had accepted JOB
as police chief Of Nashua, N. H."
Mr.. Burke issued the following
statement:
''The story pictures me as an
example Of q police officer taking
Ian easy way. out. That is wrong
and contrary to well-known facts.
when / retired I had 34Nyears
service in the Police Department.
and prior to my retirement ! had
suffered illness. @
"In 1929 I was made captain Of
the first precinct. I lost about IS
pounds In weight as a result of an
attack Of pneumonia i've or six
years before that.
Was Given Option.
II was made chief of detectives
in 1881. In 1882 Glassford gave
me the option of being reduced to
plain inspector. or retiring.
Instead of taking the easy way
Iout took the medical tests and
passed, and was found At to con-
ltinue on duty.
| mot long after that Glassford
resigned and I continued in office
for approximately four years after
that, and did finally retire in 1896.
/ 'I did go to Florida on the
advice Of my physician and stayed
there about two months because
the weather was not good. ! re-
turned here and stayed in my
apartment the rest of the winter.
i Had Sinus, Heart Condition.
ut was well known that I was
suffering from a sinus condition
and a heart condition. After being
out for about six months / be-
came a part-time real estate sales
man, working only when I was
able.
Nov, on the Nashua police job,
they had discharged their chief
of police. A delegation came down
and consulted with city officials
there.
II went to Nashua on the rec
ommendation Of Mai. Ernest
Brown (then superintendent of
police) and on the earnest request
of Senator Bridges, Republican,
Inf New Hamnshire
II was doing a public service
for those people who were in great
distress and wanted a man with
/ great experience and admin
istrative ability.
Only Man Available.
maj. Brown said was the only
man available, who met those re-
quirements. It was just a tenn
porary thing lasting from three to
six months.
I For the last eight years ! have
been under a doctors care, having
one checkup a mouth. have
been hospitalized twice in 1945
and twice in 1916 because of my
heart.
when retired, a resolution
was passed In 1896 by the Public
Order Committee of the WASH
ington Board of Trade thanking
me for my service to the City. It
noted that my health had been
failing for some time"