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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950-06-19 Board of Selectmen Minutes (2)June 19,1950 EXECUTIVE SESSION-OFFICER JOHN WILLIS Mr. Thomson inquired of Officer Willis if he had read the rules and regu~a tions of the Police department as published in lP32 and now in booklet form. Mr. WiLlis s~a~ed tham he never knew they existed un~il the last few weeks When he had heard considerable discussion about them. Mr. Thomson then read rule 25 which r elates to outside work of police officers. Mr. Willis stated that'he had no other calling other than his police work. Mr. Thomson asked him if he had every been restricted from performing his duties and he said no, no~ at all nor has he hesitated to perform his duty. He stated that he could r~ say how ~ arrests he had made in the last month and that there was only one, M Neketuk. Mr. Thomson asked if it was intention that an officer is to make arrests for any violation of the law and he replied that he had always heard that Justice should be tempered with mercy. Many cases are not flagrant. He said his shift was the later hours and that there was no statue regarding speed in Massachusetts after 3~'O0~.M. Mr. Thomson stated that this was an executive session and confidential. Mr. Coffin asked Officer Willis if he were attending Law School s4d how much longer he had to go and if it was his Lutantion to be apolice officer after completing his education. Mr. Willis stated that he may have to go .mother year. Then if~he could obtain a &~od Job with sufficien~ salaryro support three children there would be no more policeman. . In answer to a question by Mr. Thomson, Officer Willis s tared that he did not think the salary, was adequate to take care of a home and three children. He said it was a big problem all over thc state, paying municipal help. He believes that it is a comparable salary. He mentioned the security that is supposed to go with the job of poli'ce officer but he felt that itwas secure only be.canse the Jobexists. If it were not him, then~somebody else would have the secumi~y. If they did mway with the police then there would be no security. Mr. Thomson brought up the mat=er of operatives in the mills and asked if he felt that they had the s~me security as he had and he felt tha= they did. Mr. Thomson asked if he felt that an operative had securi=y for 52 weeks in the year and he said that they chose their field. Mr.r Thomson asked if he had not chosen his and he said he hsd but there was nothing.certain about his future as a lawyer. Mr. Thomson said he ~was convinced that a municipality of this size could not warrant a salary that would give a better 'type of living that he is getting. Mr. Willis said the pay is in comparison vclth other places but in Methuen they pay $59.00 and he Just couldn't get b~ on what he made. Mr. Willis inquired if the town would be liable for an accident if he were operating for the town as an officer. Mr. Coffin stated that he vms quite sure the town will pay, through sense of decency. He said the town is liable if the person is acting as a police Officer. Mr. Willis felt that it vms a pecular set-up and recently in Lawrence a situation of this =ype came up and Lawrence refuses to pay the claim. Mr. Coffin stated that the police was covered in case of accident. Mr. Coffin asked if officer Willis had any 'other ins=ructions relative to fire- arms and' he s rated that he had sufficient 'instructions in the service and he statod that he had received many good instructions from Officer Farnham, which supposedly came from the head of the department. Mr. Coffin asked if there was any systematic procedure and Willis stated that the pistol practice had been discontinued as there was no money for amunition. ¥~en asked by Mr. Coffin as to whether there was any regular procedure of practice or learning, Officer Willis said that experience was the best teacher. He mentioned the F.B.I. school but he didn't think it was too ~ffecti=e and stated that he felt that commonknowledge, exercise of discretion and good sense we~.e the impontant things to practice. He said as far as giving instruction in thedepar=ment there was no one qualified to do it. Mr. Coffin asked what he attributed the complaints against the department in not enforcing the speed laws. Officer Willis s=ated that any complaints or criticism he has heard have been second hand. In attempting =o cut down speed, thcre is more criticism thannbefore. He said he had been on duty on the highway and there is no real ~lagrant violations. He said he had arrested speeders and found that the signs had been taken dow~ three days before the violator was in ccur~t and he fel~ foolish. JOHN WILLIS 2- June 19,1950 Mr. Finneran s~a~ed tha~ ,the new speed regulation had been advertised but the road has not been posted as yet. Mr. Willis mentionedthat he is onMain Street every morning from ?:30 to 8:00 A.M. and in a ~a~. only two "guys"were arrested. He said there are manycars going by but that most .of the people brought in are not local people. Mr. Coffin asked if he w~s satisfied with the Police Department and had no complaints to make. He said none and he was satisfied. Mr. Coffin asked if he had any idea what~hewill do in respect ko the bar examination being a future thing. He said he did not as ~he will probably have ko go to school next year and you can never tell ho~r things will turn out. Mr. Willis then left the meeting.