Petitions - City of Somerville

permission.
Thursday.February 15, 1930
Continued and persistent neglect to pay a just debt or debts
Communicating information relating to police matters without
Sitting down while on patrol duty. ,
Conversing during the tour of patrol duty with any other member
of the force or with a citizen, without sufficient cause therefor.
Not patrolling or not properly patrolling his route during
his tour of patrol duty.
Failing to detect a crime committed on his route during his .
tour of patrol duty.
Unnecessary absence from his route, or leaving his route before
his tour of duty has expired or before he has been relieved.
Any other act contrary to good order and discipline or constituting
neglect of duty, violation of the rules of the department, or any
other just cause.
Section 2. For any of the above mentionedr-reasons the mayor-y
may punish by forfeiture of pay or, subject to confirmation by the board of'
aldermen, may reduce in rank or remove any member of the department.
.Section 3. When-a member of the department is suspended by
•the chief oi' police the suspension and the reason therefor shall immediately
be reported to the mayor by the chief of police. The suspended officer may
ask for a hearing "by the mayor.
• • /
Section 4. Charges preferred against any member of the force
must be in writing and signed by the person making the charges, if requested
by the mayor or chief of police.
Section 5. Complaints made a t station houses by citizens
against police officers shall be taken down in writing by the officers in
charge and transmitted to- the chief of police.
RULK XXI1
COUKT3, KVID^NCii;
Section 1. The police concerned in cases before the courts
are to be punctual in attendance, wearing the uniform, and clean and neat in
appearance. The captain and men detailed for special service may'appear in
plain clothes, unless otherwise ordered by the chief of police.
Section 2. They shall have the cases in which they are the
complainants properly prepared, the witnesses present, and all property
which is to be used in evidence suitably arranged for presentation to the
court.
Section 3. They shall observe the utmost attention and respect
towards magistrates at all times.
Section 4. When giving evidence, they shall speak calmly
and explicitly, in a clear, distinct and audible tone, so as to be easily
heard by court and jury. They shall give evidence with strict accuracy, confining
themselves to the casethen before the court, and neither suppressing
nor overstating 'the slightest circvimstance ^itia a vievi of favoring any person,
or from ill will to either side. When cross-examined, they shall answer
with the same 'readiness and civility as when giving evidence in support of
$he charge, remembering that the ends of justice will be .best served by theii
desire simply to tell the whole truth, whether it be in favor of or against
the prisoner.
Section 5. When the police are sufferers from injuries received,
and are giving evidence against those they believe to be guilty, it
is especially necessary that they should not allow any feeling or wishes as
to the decision of the case to influence them.
Section 6. If the police give improper or unsatisfactory evidence
or any remarks .are made by the court regarding their testimony or behavior,
a report shall be made to the chief of police.
Section 7. A police officer shall not testify in any civil or
criminal case in any court unless legally summoned so to do, or unless he
shall have received permission or order so to do from an officer in charge
of police station.
RULK XXI11
DEAD BODIES
Section 1. A police officer who finds a dead body shall im-
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