Hess v. Roberson
Hess v. Roberson
Opinion of the Court
Roberson, a member of the police force of the City of Jacksonville, Florida, procured from the Circuit Court a Writ of Prohibition against the Board of Bond Trustees of said city which was made absolute to prevent said board from trying Roberson on a charge made by the acting Chief of Police of the city with a view to a suspension or removal by the board of Roberson as a member of the police force. No objection is made to the writ as a mode of procedure.
On writ of error the respondents below contend, in effect, that the Board of Bond Trustees have authority to try a member of the police force on charges made by the chief of police, and to suspend or remove such member. •
The statutory provisions that “the Board of Bond Trustees of the City of Jacksonville shall have exclusive power to appoint subject to approval by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the City Council, all * * members of the police force,” and that “the organization, number and compensation of members of the police force shall be regulated and controlled by
MAYOR HAS FULL POWER.
Sec. 2. The Mayor shall have full power and authority to receive any and all charges that may be made against any member of the police force, and to suspend such member, with or without pay, pending the result of an investigation by him, or a trial by the Board of Bond Trustees as hereinafter provided.
It shall be the duty of the Mayor to conduct a fair and speedy investigation of such charges. In the event he finds any member of the police force guilty of any misconduct for neglect of duty, he shall have full power and authority to punish such member by suspension from duty, without pay, for a period not to exceed three months, or, in case the accused member has not served as a member of the force for one year or more to remove him from office.
Provided, however, that whenever the Mayor suspends or removes any member of the police force he shall report his actions with his reasons therefor in writing to the next meeting of the City Council for its approval or rejection.
REMOVAL OF OFFICERS.
Sec. 3. Whenever the Mayor, upon investigation of any charge against any member of the police force who
CAUSES FOR REMOYAL.
Sec. 4. Any member of the police force may be removed from office foh the following causes and upon the following grounds:
1. Misfeasance, malfeasance or non-feasance in office.
2. Drunkenness^
3. Conviction of any crime.
4. Mistreatment or neglect of prisoners.
5. Disobedience of any lawful order of the Mayor.
6. Incompetency or incapacity.
7. Acceptance of gratuities.
8. Any misconduct or neglect of duty, or conduct toward the Mayor, officers or members of the police force subversive of discipline.
But no member of the police force who has served as a member one year or more shall be removed .from office
Sec. 5. All charges made against any member of the police force to the Mayor, or made or transmitted by him to the Board of Bond Trustees, shall be in writing, and signed by the person making them. No especial form shall be required, but the offense charged must be clearly and specifically stated.
TRIALS TO BE PUBLIC.
Sec. 6. All investigations and trials herein provided for shall be held in the City Hall, shall be public and shall be held within two weeks from the filing of the charges. The accuser shall be served with reasonable notice of the investigation or trial and the accused shall be served with like notice, together with a copy of the charges. He shall in all cases have the right to be present and to be represented by counsel, and the City Attorney at the request of the Mayor, or of the Board of Bond Trustees shall act as prosecutor.
The Recorder shall act as Clerk at all investigations and trials and shall keep a brief record of all of the proceedings. He shall administer oaths to all witnesses, and, at the request of the Mayor, Board of Bond Trustees, the accused officer, or the accuser shall issue subpoenas and compulsory process to compel the attendance of persons, and the production of books and papers before the Mayor, or the Board of Bond Trustees. All motions, process and subpoenas provided for herein shall be served and returned by a member of the police force.
OTHER PROVISIONS.
Sec. 7. The Chief of Police, or the acting Chief shall immediately notify the Mayor in writing of any and all
Sec. 8. All resignations from, the police force shall be addressed to the Mayor and shall be in writing.
Sec. 9. The Chief or acting Chief of Police shall report to the Mayor daily, or at such convenient time as the Mayor may direct, the condition and general transactions of the police force and such matters or things in regard thereto as the Mayor may request or require.”
It is clear from these provisions of the statutes and of the ordinance adopted by express authority of the statute, that the Board of Bond Trustees have “exclusive power to appoint,” subject to approval by the City Council “dll members of the police force;” and that “the organization, number and compensation of the police force * shall be regulated and controlled by the Board of Bond Trustees.” But in vieAV of the express provisions as to the power of suspension and removal, these powers given the Board of Bond Trustees “to appoint” and to regulate and control the “organization, number and compensation of the members of the police force,” do not include or imply power to suspend a member of the police force or to take part in the removal of a member of the police force except as stated in the quoted provisions. The main features of the ordinance are clearly not in excess of the statutory authority under AA'hich it was adopted, and it is controlling Avhen not in conflict with the higher laAV. The statute expressly provides for an ordinance to “establish general provisions and requirements” to guide the Mayor “in the control, suspension and removal of members of the police force.” The provision of the statute for an ordinance “designating the causes for and grounds upon which members of
It is argued that as the statute of 1887 gave to a Board of Police Commissioners “exclusive power to appoint, organize and remove members of the police force,” when the statute was amended and the Board of Bond Trustees were given power “to appoint” and to regulate and control “the organization, number and compensation of members of the police force,” the power of removal was thereby given the latter board. But this contention falls in the face of the terms of the amending statute, as no such power of removal is given to the Board of Bond Trustees expressly or by implication or intendment, except in so far as a trial before such Board is provided for “upon specific charges” to determine the issue duly made.
The power and duty of the Mayor “to direct and control the police foree,” “to preserve the peace,” and his powers as to the “control, suspension and removal of members of the police force,” may at some points of contact with the powers and duties of the Board of Bond
As the Board of Bond Trustees are authorized to try members of the police force only upon charges made by the Mayor for removal, the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Sig Hess, in Error v. Willie M. Roberson, in Error
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Tinder the charter provisions of the City of Jacksonville the Board of Bond Trustees of the city are authorized to try members of the police force of the city only upon charges involving removal made by the mayor of the city.