Evening star., 1953-10-10
City 10 Appeal
Ruling Granting
Bullock Pension
Conference Planned
For Commissioners
And D. c. Counsel

For Commissioners
And D. c. Counsel
The Commissioners will appeal
a Federal court decision giving
former Police Inspector Albert
I. Bullock. fired last month, the
right to collect his annual PEN
sion.
Judge Alexander Holtzof of
the U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia yesterday
made effective his May 5 ruling
that the former policeman met
all the requirements for retire
ment.
Corporation Counsel Vernon
E. West said he will notify the
court Immediately of an inten-
tion to appeal. He and the Com
missioners will confer next week
before the appeal is made.
"A matter of principle and
policy of the Police Department
is involved, and the decision
should be appealed on the ground
that all questions should be
final" Commissioner Renah F.
Camalier said when informed of
the decision.
Emphasis in Ruling.
Judge Holtzoff, in making his
ruling, emphasized that the
Commissioners have no say in
whether man shall receive his
police or fire pension, SO long as
the individual involved has full
filed the pension requirements.
"The weakness Of the Govern
ment'S case is that Congress did
not provide for the forfeiture of
retirement pay for misconduct"
Judge Holtzoff said.
The decision upset lengthy eff
forts by the District heads to
discipline the inspector after his
failure to explain to the Senate
District Crime Committee and to
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
how he and his wife managed to
deposit in various banks $15,333
more than their regular salaries
during three-year period.
In October. 1850, Bullock was
indicted here in connection with
the Charles E. Nelson gambling
syndicate. and received his first
suspension from the Police De-
partment.
Restored to Job.
Nearly year later Judge
James M. Kirkland of the U. S.
District Court for the District of
Columbia issued a directed ver-
dict of acquittal, and the insbec-
tor was restored to his job.
Others indicted at the same time
were convicted, but the convic-
tions were reversed on appeal.
Later the principal members of
the syndicate pleaded guilty to
similar charges in Prince Georges
County and were fined $4,000
each. Bullock was not indicted
in the Prince Georges County
case.
Later, in May, 1852, the crime
committee sought to question
Bullock about his finances. When
he could not answer many of
the questions put by the COM
mittee he was suspended again.
But before that happened, on
February II, 1852, Bullock ap-
piled for retirement. His appli-
cation was refused. Yesterday
Judge Holtzof ruled that Bull
lock was within his legal rights
in applying for retirement, be-
cause he had met all the re-
quirementS - was SIS years old,
had served 25 years as police
man, and was on duty at the
time. The judge made Bullock's
retirement retroactive to Febru-
ary II, 1852.
Trial Board Action.
Last August Is a police trial
board found Bullock guilty of in
subordination, conduct prejudi-
cial to the reputation and good
order of the police department
and failure to file District in
come tax returns for three years.
The board recommended his dis
miSSal.
On September IA the Com
missioners, hearing an appeal
from the trial board action,
upheld the board and dismissed
Bullock.
Judge Holtzoff emphasized
yesterday that he had made up
his mind in the case last May
S. and pointed to his statement
at that time that he was merely
delaying effecting his order to
give the Police Department a
chance to hold the trial board
hearing.
The judges ruling in effect
cancels the trial board action.
since the retirement dates back
to before the dismissal.
The former inspectors retire
ment pay will be about $4,000.
In addition his attorney. Charles
E. Ford, said "some adjustment
will have to be made" in con-
nection with back salary which
the Commissioners had granted
to Bullock when they dismissed
him.