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Show ! CHIEF W. I. NORTON KEEPS POLICE OCT OF POLITICS The monthly meeting of the police ikpartment was held yesterday att . moon and. in addition to dlsmsslnt; routine matters Chief V. 1. Norton explained his attitude toward the Iar ticipation of members of the depart- meat political affairs while on duty in relation to this question, be Bald a letter had been mailed by him p ro the different police sergeants and his talk to the officers was a review 01 Its contents ( hief Norton's letter to the Ber- ' -: ! '-eants was as follows "Gentlemen. Just a few words about politics. hen 1 came into this department, among the first things that was discussed in our me tingfl and taken up by Commissioner Brown ing and myself, was politics and the instructions were that the men ot this department should kc p out ot politics when the) were on the Btreete on duty. "I bave never objected to any one of the department aspiring to a bettor bet-tor position In life in a way thai was becoming to himself as an of f 1 cer and a gentleman or that would not cast reflections upon the department depart-ment In any way. As for me. I am absolutely not in polities and never hae been, and I feel that every man In the department, save those who are aspiring to other positions, should follow my example, and to those who are aspiring, while they are employed by the city and on duty and In uniform, uni-form, i tee that politics should be left entirely alone "These remarks are prompted by rumors that have come to me In the last few days -that several members of the department were working and talking politics while In uniform ami on dut on the streets; and they are not onl being criticized Individual! . but it is casting reflection n the entire en-tire department, which perhaps af-1 af-1 feets me mon than any Individual i officer, when you all well know that ! I am not in the game and do not ' deserve it. "I desire to be fair and Just with I you all in every way, but I must ln-! ln-! sist from this time on that, under conditions abo" im ntlnned, politics must be let alone. i trust that it Will not be neces-sur neces-sur to remind you any further ot this matter and hope that when these i rumors come to me that I w ill bo j able to say they are not true. If you and your men are loyal to this department, de-partment, you will carry out these In-j In-j Btructlons to the letter and win not do or allow anything to be done, ir I you can prevent It, that will cast any unfavorable reflections upon this de ' partment (Signed) 'CHIEF W I NORTON." |