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eee ate ae oe Lares ce ERC emi See Remrantrass - §2 Recent developments regarding the Kansas City Police Department are as follows: Day before yesterday Chief of Police Robert Ey” Phelan resigned his position. He is reputed to be an honest capable police of- ficer. During the present administration, he has been merely a figure- head, His name was even eliminated from Police Department letter-heads. Practically nothing pertaining to the Police Department was ever referred | to him for attention. He was given an ex-convict as a secretary, in order that hie activities might be reported to the Director of Police. ¢ ° On Saturday, September 16, 1933, John L.ylazia, ea North Side political leader, and a reputed First Lieutenant to Thomas J. ‘¥Pendergast, Democratic boss of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted for ncome Tax fraude, after the Federal Grand Jury personally had insisted — upon investigating reputed income tax frauda. LIazia is reputed to control the Italien vote in Kansas City. It is my understanding that Lazia is alao an ex-convict, having served a term in the Missour! State Penitentiary for robbery. , . During the past week, Circuit Court Jufige James kh. Page, while sentencing three Italian youths on highway robbery charges, took oc- easion from the bench to publicly, sauatically, criticise City Manager Renry F.XMc Elroy and E, Cj Reppert, Director of Police. Judge Page pub- licly andounced from the behch that Mr. Mc Elroy and Mr. Reppert were @i- rectly responsible for the existing criminal conditions in Kansas City, Missouri, at the present time. , In addition to the above, it may be noted that recent- ly, a State Grand Jury investigated crime conditions in Kaneas City, and another Grand Jury is expected to make a similar investization in the near future. Public speakers also at the present time are directing caustic criticiam toward police administration. It appears that these attacks on the present edministration might possibly result in changes in the not too far distant future. take on important developments through Chief of Detectives Thomas JAHig- gins. The reputation of Higgins ie that of a capable police officer. Persons wlio know him end his present position at the present time aimi- ficantly rezark, “Of course, he has to follow orders.” The inveatization of the instant case my mae IN