Evening star., 1952-06-24
Inquiry Is Told
|0f Police Work
For Legislators
Assigned Freely,
No Questions Asked,
Barrett Testifies

Pollce are assigned freely to
make Investigations for Senators
and representatives with no
questions asked" former Police
Chief Robert J. Barrett said to-
day.
His testimony was given as a
police trial board considered
charges that 1t. Joseph w. Shimon
illegally tapped telephone wires
while conducting independent in
|vestigationS for Senator Brewster,
Republican, of Maine, in 1947.
Mr.. Barrett said he never asked
questions about what was done
when police worked for members
|of Congress but reiterated that
he did not know 1t. Shimon was
working for Senator Brewster.
He said he was aware. however,
that 1t. Shimon worked for Rep
resentative Macy, Republican, Of
New York, chairman Of House
subcommittee investigating gray
marketing in 1948.
Assigned to District Attorney.
He said the lieutenant should
have reported either to his police
Superiors or to the District At
torney's Office that he was work.
ing for Senator Brewster. 1t.
Shimon during that time was as
signed to the District Attorneys
Office.
The former chief also said he
knew Of no order banning wire
tapping by members of the police
department, either while he was
chief of detectives or later as
police superintendent.
Although he said yesterday the
department does not sanction"
overlapping, he knew Of in
stances where it had been used.
But persistent efforts by Robert
E. Lynch, attorney for 1t. Shi-
mon, to introduce evidence about
other cases in which wire tapping
allegedly was used by police were
ruled out by the board.
The board also would not let
Mr.. Barrett answer whether he
had heard that 1t. Shimon had
tapped the former chiefs home
telephone at one time.
Tells Of Assignments.
Mr.. Barrett said that while he
was police chief he made various
assignments Of personnel to help
Senators and Representatives in
, independent investigations.
Most Of the time" he said.
, they would request a particular
man."
Mr.. Lynch referred to two let
/. ters from members of Congress
who had commended 1t. Shimon
for work he had done for them.
The letters came from Represen.
tative Macy and from Senator
Bridges, Republican, Of New
Hampshire.
; The only thing he knew about
these Investigations. he said, was
when he got the letters back that
the jobs had been we'll done. He
: said he never inquired what was
done in the course of the investi-
Igations.
The trial board recessed Short
ly after noon and planned to re-
!. sumo questioning Of Mr.. Barrett
later in thhe day.
First Report Made by Maher.
Il Mr.. Barrett also revealed that
the first complaint against 1t.
Shimon, lodged by Probationary
Detective John McHa'e was die
tated by Daniel B. Maher. former
trouble shooter in the Commits
Sioners' Office.
Mr.. Barrett said Mr.. Maher
confirmed that he was the one
who dictated the report. He tes-
titled yesterday he didn't know
who dictated it.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Lynch said
he will try to prove that someone
was "out to try to get" 1t. Shimon
when the tapping charges
against the lieutenant first were
brought to the attention of Mr..
Barrett.
The statement came as Mr..
Barrett appeared as a witness
late yesterday.
The charges have been aired
by a grand jury, the Corporation
> Counsel and a Senate District
: subcommittee. They finally were
!, (Caa CIIYNENN porn oN