Probe Of Police Department Ordered - Council To Hold Investigation Of Affairs, Conduct

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THE ANN ARBOR NEWS

Hundred And Fifth Year, No. 134

Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, June 6, 1939

Sixteen Pages

Three Cents A Copy

Probe Of Police Department Ordered

Council To Hold Investigation Of Affairs, Conduct

Committee Of Three Members To Be Named By President Young; Welcomed By Commission

An investigation into the affairs, conduct and operation of the police department and the city board of police commissioners was ordered by the city council last night.

A committee of three members of the council to be named by Leigh J. Young, council president, who will be an ex officio member, will conduct the investigation and, under the city charter, will have the powers of a court. The results will be submitted to the council at a committee of the whole meeting.

The investigation is the first step of the city council to sift a multitude of rumors which have been current the past few weeks relating not only to the police department but also predicting changes in the heads of other city departments.

Follows Leave for Fohey
Action ordering the investigation follows by a week the police commission’s decision to give Chief Lewis W. Fohey an immediate indefinite leave of absence and naming Sgt. Norman E. Cook, acting chief. At the same commission meeting, the resignation of Commissioner George W. Kyer, who was not confirmed for reappointment by the city council, was announced.

Ald. William C. Hudson of the fourth ward proposed the investigation resolution and Ald. Cecil Creal of the third ward immediately made a substitute motion to hold the committee of the whole meeting at once and "put everything in black and white."

The substitute motion received four votes and, on a show of hands, Aid. Hudson’s proposal appeared to have nine out of the 13 votes.

President Young explained the charter gives the committee court powers to compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths and compel witnesses to testify as is conferred on courts of justices of the peace.

No Discussion

Although there was no discussion of reasons for the investigation, it has been generally known that the council has been aroused by increasing rumors of possible further changes in various city departments and of the influence reportedly being exerted over city affairs by one local group.

The police department investigation, as a result is interpreted as a council effort to sift the rumors relating to the police department and as an announcement of the council's intention to keep a close check on city affairs.

The resolution for the investigation follows:

“Resolved, that an investigation be made by this body in the affairs, conduct and operations or the police department and the board of police commissioners.

"Resolved, further, that for the purpose of conducting such investigation, a committee consisting of three members of the council be appointed by the president of the council, and that in addition thereto, the president of the council be a member of such committee, ex officio.

“Resolved, further, that said committee report the result of its investigation to the council in an official assembly as a committee of the whole.”

Broom Given Police Post

Detroit Man Named Acting Superintendent To Affect Improvements

Appointment of Lt. Claude Broom, director of the Detroit police training school, as a member of the Ann Arbor police department with the title of acting superintendent, on a part-time basis for the next three months, was announced by the police commission after a meeting today.

The commission also announced the appointment of two new patrolmen, Luther P. Buss, 21 years old, 619 Church St., and Walter Krasny, also 21, of 1122 Hutchins Ave. They will report July 1. A third of the four new officers provided for in the 1939-40 budget will be named later this month and the fourth in September, when Lt. Broom’s temporary appointment expires.

Will Study Organization

As acting superintendent of the cal police department, Lt. Broom will study the department’s organization and methods for the purpose of improving them and “tuning up the department to a very high degree of efficiency,” the commission said. He will be responsible directly to the commission, which must approve any recommended changes before they are put into effect.

Among the improvements sought through the employment of Lt. Broom are: Better organization of traffic work, establishment of an improved system of records of traffic violations; adoption of uniform equipment for the officers; adoption of a means of better coping with crime, with particular reference to' gambling; establishment of a more uniform discipline system; establishment of a trial board in the department; and establishment of a system of merits for outstanding service.

Lt. Broom, who will report for duty here about June 15, will receive a regular patrolman’s pay, $150 a month. By agreement with the Detroit police department, which yesterday afternoon granted the local commission’s request for leave of absence for him and assignment to the Ann Arbor department on a part-time basis, Lt. Broom will serve at least 10 days month in Ann Arbor.

Suggested by Cook Appointment of Lt. Broom as acting superintendent of the local department was made by the commission at the suggestion of acting Chief Norman E. Cook, who said in a letter to the commission that he believed Lt. Broom could make suggestions for the betterment of the whole department. Lt. Broom was director of the police training school held earlier this year for members of the Ann Arbor department.

Both new patrolmen appointed by the commission today are graduates of the Ann Arbor High school with the class of 1935. Buss, who is married, has had one year’s study in business college and is now employed as a steward at the Michigan League. Krasny, who is not married, attended the Michigan State Normal College at Ypsilanti one year. He now is employed taxi cab driver. 

Commissioner Says Probe Is Welcomed

“The police commission and the police department welcome the investigation," Commission Chairman Herbert L. Frisinger announced after a meeting of the commission this morning.

"Certainly if the commission has done anything improper, we feel the council is entitled to know about it. If we have done anything improper, the investigation will give us chance to improve or remedy it,” Commissioner Frisinger said.

“If any member of the department has been guilty of any misconduct or has stepped out of line in any regard, the commission wants to know it so as to remedy the situation. Our one ambition is to have the finest police department in the United States,” he concluded