Evening star., 1953-09-15
Bullock Plans
Court Contest
Over Dismissal
D. 6. Heads Decide
No Pension Is Due
Former Inspector

Inspector Albert I. Bullock,
who was fired yesterday after
more than 80 years in the Metro
politan Police Department. is
ready to fight the dismissal in
court.
At the same time. the So
year-old policeman will press a
demand that he be retired with
full annuity or pension rights
due officers in good standing.
The city is trying to avoid pay
ing Bullock any pension.
The Commissioners kicked
Bullock out of his high-ranking
job on recommendation of a
special trial board, which con-
victed him of INSTRUMENTATION.
conduct unbecoming an officer
and conduct prejudicial to the
Police Department.
Except for a short period last
year, the inspector has been
suspended since October, 1851,
when he was indicted on charges
of gambling conspiracy, along
with members of the Charles E.
Nelson numbers racket. He was
acquitted of that charge by di-
rected verdict, on the ground
the statute of limitations had
run out.
$4,000 Unexplained.
Since then, however, Bullock
had been under fire because he
could not or would not explain
how he and his wife managed
to bank $15,333 more than they
received in salaries. This was
the basis for the charges that
led to his firing.
Speaking for Bullock, Attorney
Charles E. Ford said the first
legal move will come in District
Court on the retirement annuity
question. The eX-policeman is
counting upon an opinion Of
Judge Alexander Holtzoff to take
care of that.
Judge Holtzoff ruled several
months ago that Bullock had a
right to an annuity and was en-
titled to be placed eventually
on the retirement rolls on the
basis of longevity" But the court.
said retirement should be de-
layed until the trial board could
hear the charges then pending.
The board sat in June and filed
it's report on August 81.
Following up the Commission
ers' dismissal order yesterday,
the Corporation Counsel filed a
motion in District Court re-
queSting that the Holtzoff
opinion be amended and modi-
fed.
Law Held PermiSsive.
The Corporation Counsel con-
tends the law provides that a
member of the police depart
ment may" be retired after
meeting certain qualifications.
1t says the law does not require
that he be retired.
According to the motion. Bull
lock is not eligible for retire
ment because he has been dis
missed and therefore is no longer
member of the Police Depart
ment. 1t states that Bullock
now receives no salary, hence
there is no way to fix an amount
due him under the retirement
plan.
The Commissioners agreed to
refund $3,646.20 Bullock had
contributed personally to the
police and firemen's retirement
fund. They also said he is en-
titled to receive ST 1925 in back
pay for part of the time he was
under suspension. (This was the
1872 period. Immediately fol-
lowing his indictment and ac-
quittal on the gambling conSpi-
,racy chargeD
New Suit i'm Prospect.
Attorney Ford contemplates a
separate legal step-the filing of
new suit-to upset the dis
misSal order against Inspector
Bullock. He already has at
tackled the qualifications of the
three District officials who served
as trial board members.
At the hearing in June. Mr..
Ford refused to offer any defense
in behalf of Bullock. He de-
clared that would be useless.
asserting that the trial board
had pre-iudged the guilt of the
policeman. This was emphat-
ically denied by all three board
members.
Those who served at the trial
were former Rent Control Ad-
ministrator Robert F. Cogswell.
Director of Corrections Donald
Clemmer and 1t. Col. Harry F..
Hansen, Assistant Engineer Com
missioner.
Mr.. Ford renewed the attack
yesterday, after learning of the
dismissal decision.
"We knew from the day the
board was appointed what the
outcome would be-" he said.
"The Commissioners subordi-
mates complied with the Conn
missioners' wishes, and now the
Commissioners have complied
with the Subordinates' wishes"
He charged the decision
f1aunted court decisions and
invited citizens to show disre-
spect for the courts.
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