Show Crowther Tells Reasons for Firing Dykes Chief Cites Cifes Shortage In War Bonds at Civil Service Probe Friendship vying with duty Police Chief Chiet L. L C. C Crowther sat lIat before the civil service commission Wednesday and told why he fired tired T. T L. L Dykes former police captain and a fellow officer for tor over 16 years when the chief was elevated ed from tram the ranks last October The hearing began at 1130 in room city and county ing the result of Dykes' Dykes appeal from his dismissal July 12 Chief Crowther was the first witness called Under qu questioning of his counsel Assistant City Attys A. A Pratt Kesler and Homer Holmgren he undertook to o establish establish establish lish the information on which he made his dismissal move Mr Kesler Kesler Kes- Kes ler explained to the commission that later witnesses will establish establish lish Ush the proof of ot this information Dykes former secretary of ot the Salt Lake Police Mutual Aid Is accused of neglecting to account Tor for shortages in the benefit groups group's treasury Chief Crowther testified he was first apprised of Mutual Aids Aid's difficulties difficulties dif dit- I a few days after April i 3 1946 1046 when association officers informed him that Dykes had been suspended from office oUke Fa Failed ed to Show Books At that time he said new officers officers cers told him that Dykes had failed upon demand to turn over the associatiOn n account books reportedly reportedly reportedly report- report edly stolen from Dykes Dykes' car outside outside outside out out- side the police station March 15 Although Dykes reported the theft of a brief case containing papers the following day Chief Crowther said he was was was' told that the he association officers did not learn earn that the books had supposedly supposed supposed- ly been contained in the brief case until the demand was made April 3 Joseph Burbidge assistant di director director director di- di rector of the police records bureau was the first witness called after the afternoon session opened He Hc Capt Dykes had reported the theft of ofa a tan brief case cue conal containing con con- taming al s some me papers but ho had hadnot hadnot hadnot not mentioned the papers concerned concerned concerned con con- the Police Mutual records S SLater Later the chief said he was wag shown a stack of war bonds which Dykes had been authorized to buy with association funds and arid f for r which was vas withdrawn from the groups group's bank accounts Stapled Bonds The five top bonds bonis Chief Chief Crowther said were 1000 bonds purchasable at face value but the bottom five had a Repurchase purchase value of only The bonds had been stapled together in this order givIng giving giving ing the appearance of 10 bonds each of 1000 1000 purchase value One o of the charges against Dykes maintains that 96 34 of the 1300 discrepancy has not been accounted for The chief next took up a check contributed by Auerbach See Page 2 Column 4 DYKES j f Continued from Page One Co to the association which it is alleged did not show up in the organizations organization's treasury The check which Chief Chie Crowther personally turned over to Ear Earl Bertelson then treasurer was indorsed and as- as cashed by Dykes Chief Crowther also said paid Mutual Aid id officers officer told him of similar r circumstances in Jn the Case case of Po 12 2 check hec which Ji wa 9 she the he d day y yb b before oJ Dykes Aykes Py es was to leave office and rid a g. larger Jarger pay roll roU check on the day after Dykes was relieved Monthly Duties A pay roll roU check he explained contains irn the dues deducted deduct d from police officers officers' pay each eachmon mon month th When he called Dykes into his office before the discharge Chief Crowther said Dykes Insisted ted he could explain in the apparent shortages shortages short short- ages ages if U the Ute books had not trot been Je p. p stolen said he and Bertelson had each bought a part of he bonds but all money drawn out for tor bonds WR was spent for bonds and Pond that 50 pf th the Auerbach check lead had been given wen t to the police departments department's J bowling fund Attorney Objects O Over strenuous ob objections by Horace C. C Beck one me of Dykes' Dykes attorneys attorneys at at- Chief Crowther answered a question put to him as to the effect shortage suspicions had on police morale The men men felt they could not recognize ze Dykes as their captain and could not respect his orders the chief replied A few minutes later be he eagerly a answered one of at Mr Ir Becks Beck's cross- cross examining questions Tom Dykes had always had a tine fine reputation in th the d department nt and I have always liked him When the hearing ape opened e d. d Dykes a and d Chief Cr Crowther were inadvertently seated d side fide by side and uncomfortably avoided Jl looking at e each ch other |