Evening star., 1953-04-01
Cove|I Rebuked
For Accepting
Gambler Gifts
City Heads Action
Is Recommended by
Police Chief Murroy

- SSVssssssSsu0S0 W
Police Chief Murroy
The Commissioners have issued
an official reprimand to Deputy
Police Chief Howard v. Covell
for accepting gifts of flowers and
whisky from Abe (Jewboy Dietz)
Plisco, well-known gambler.
The action came late yesterday
and followed a recommendation
of Police Chief Robert v. Murray.
Inspector Covell's acceptance
Of the gifts from the gambler
came to light during the Senate
Crime Committee investigation
last year. The matter has been
under study by a special COM
mittee Of ranking police officers
since.
The Commissioners also cleared
one other policeman and warned
others of their conduct after
clearing them. All had been men,
toned in testimony before the
Senate group.
Convinced He Erred.
: The recommendation from
Chief Murray in Inspector Co.
vell'S case declared:
There is no doubt that In.
Spector Covell. who then was q
captain and commanding officer
OF No. l Precinct, erred in this
matter"
Chief Murray went on to say
that he recommended an official
reprimand for his handling Of
the situation. It was revealed in
the testimony that Plisco had
come to Inspector Covell'S home
during Christmas holidays in
1949 and 1850 and left the gifts.
Chief Murray continued:
I'm all fairness to Inspector
Covell, I would like to bring to
your attention that his record
in the enforcement of gambling
laws, and all laws, as commando
ing officer of No. Precinct was
outstanding. Il.
Outstanding Service.
"Since his appointment az
deputy chief and executive off,
Ger. he has rendered loyal, con-
scientiouS and untiring service
and has been of tremendous as
siStance to the chief in the many
difficult problems that have COM
fronted the police department in
the past II months. His service
as deputy chief has been out.
standing"
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue said Inspector Covell sat in
as a member of the special COM
mittee that Investigated the
other policemen. He Withdrew
from the committee when his
own case was heard, he added.
Others in Reports.
Other policemen on whom re.
ports were made are:
Detective Sergt. Miller A.
Dixon, 1t. William v. Christian.
Detective Sergt. John L. Boccina
and Pvt. Robert j. Maghan.
In the case of Sergt Dixon, Mr..
Donohue said the report was
filed without prejudice" It in.
volved reports that the police-
man had been seen with two men
known to be gamblers, he said
During the Senate Crime Com
mittee hearings, Sergt. Dixon was
questioned closely about his role
in a case in Baltimore. The mat
ter was called to the attention
OF the committee by Judge Joseph
Sherbow, after it was brought
out at the trial of two Baltimore
policemen in a graft case that
Sergt. Dixon had communicated
with one Of the defendants
through a known pickpocket.
1t. Christian. Sergt. Boccina
and Pvt. Maghan were involved
in another episode, MIR. Donohue
said.
He said there was conflicting
testimony as to whether 1t.
Christian has told the other two
policemen that he had once gone
to Marlboro to fix a gambling
case on orders of former Police
Chief Robert j. Barrett.
The Commissioners adopted
the recommendation that there
was lack of evidence to war
rant either criminal prosecution
or trial board action in the case.
The three policemen were warned
that personal animosities will
not be tolerated any longer in
the police department.
Bad Feeling For Years.
Mr.. Donohue said there had
been bad feelings between the
men for some years.
The recommendation criticized
Sergt. Boccina and Pvt. Maghan
for failing to bring to the atten-
tion of the proper authorities
any alleged wrongdoing by q
member of the police depart
ment. Mr.. Donohue explained
that the statements attributed to
1t. Christian, which he denied.
were supposed to have been made
four years before they were re-
vealed at q Senate hearing.
Mr.. Donol1ue said these ac-
tions disposed Of all cases in.
volving policemen whose ac-
tionS were questioned during the
Senate Crime Committee-with
the exception Of those still un-
der indictment or suspension.
Four Involved.
Included in this category are
Inspector Beverly Beach and In.
spector Albert I. Bullock, both
still suspended for unexplained
and 1t. H. H. Carper
and Detective Sergt william L.
under indictment for
conspiracy to violate the mar.
coticS laws. r.
Previously, the Commissioners
had adnntad rannKnrnandaAin,n