5 Accused Cops To Ask Rhone for Full Exoneration

5 Accused Cops To Ask Rhone for Full Exoneration Claim Falsifications Of N. J. Work Record In Overpass Case Director of Public Safety Rhone soon will be asked to “completely exonerate” five of eight Camden traffic officers who have been accused of accepting pay from the state for traffic duty at the Baird boulevard overpass during their regular city hours. State Senator Wallace made that announcement today on behalf of Sgt. Anthony Skolski and Traffic Patrolmen Charles Hance, Martin Nelson, George Getley and Everett Joslin. Wallace said he would base his appeal to Dr. Rhone on testimony produced at a preliminary hearing held yesterday on orders of Dr. Rhone for all eight men, including Captain Nathan Petit. and Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander. “There is no question that the payroll records which were the basis for the accusations against the five men I represent, were falsified,” Wallace said. “Sergeant Wilson, who kept the records admitted frequently in his testimony yesterday the records were ‘mistakes, errors and not based on actual time put in.’ ‘Charges Groundless’ “The whole hearing proved without doubt that the charges against the five men were groundless and I will ask Dr. Rhone to make a public statement that the records were falsified and these five men were blameless and not guilty of accepting state pay for work on city time.” Wilson admitted at the hearing he did not pay the traffic men the full time recorded for them on the overpass payroll records. He was asked by Assistant City Solicitor Goldman: “Then it comes down to the fact that the men in the traffic bureau only worked on their off hours. That the reports are mistakes. They only received the money to which they were entitled. You got more money than they were entitled to but you won’t tell us where that money went to, is that correct?” “Yes,” Wilson answered. Wilson said the hours marked on the payroll were a mistake (Continued on Page [?]—Column 1) Cops and Counsel in Dual Job Case —Courier-Post Photos FIVE CITY TRAFFIC BUREAU MEMBERS are shown at top presenting their defense through counsel to Public Safety Director Dr. Rhone on charges they collected pay from state highway funds for working at the Baird boulevard overpass at the time they were required to be on duty for the city. State Sen. Bruce A. Wallace is at extreme right denying the charges for the five officers he represents. Standing with him from left are Sgt. Anthony Skolski, Patrolmen Charles Hance, George Getley, Everett Joslin and Martin Nelson. The lower photo shows Traffic Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander, and Park Guard Anthony Palese waiting to be called. Cops (Continued from Page One) and that they had been listed “at random” because “a man doesn’t have much time to himself on such a job.” Asked by Goldman if he would care to reveal where the additional money went, Sergeant Wilson replied: “No. I would not.” Petit and Wilson both testified they worked 77 hours some weeks at the overpass scene, but insisted this was in addition to their regular 48 hours on city time. The testimony was presented before Rhone and Goldman with Deputy Director Edward C. Garrity and Police Chief Samuel E. Johnson attending. A stenographer from Dr. Rhone’s office took notes. Newspapermen also were present but only one policeman was allowed in Dr. Rhone’s office at one time. On behalf of the five men he represented, Wallace said: “I represent these men and they are here for the purpose of having me make a statement and offer our cooperation to the director and deputy director in the investigation of this matter,” Wallace said. “We did not anticipate there would be any hearing or that there would be questioning by the city counsel or that the statements would be taken by a stenographer. We have no objection to that except we did not receive the payroll sheets referred to here until a short time ago and we have been unable to determine who kept those payrolls. We have not had sufficient time to make a check of them. Worked on Own Time “The statement of each man is the same. They were asked to do this work by Capt. Petit. They were paid by Sergeant Wilson. They didn’t sign any payroll sheets or checks and they were paid in cash. At no time did they receive money for work at this project for the time when they were supposed to be doing city duties. They did work on their off hours and were paid. “They did not work such hours as have been stated in the press and they did not receive the compensation also published. At no time did they receive money for work during city hours. These men have daily reports from pull boxes and other records showing they carried on their public duties. These are records over which they had no control and were kept by someone else. Hold Duty Record “They also have records in their own handwriting such as tags and summonses which were issued by them to motorists and will show the time when they were in various parts of the city doing traffic work. “These records not only show the time but they show the man’s name and where it was he tagged the car. All these records have been turned into the department. We will be glad to compare our records and the alleged records of this contractor to show that regardless of the time shown in the record they did not work on city time. They were not required to use their motorcycles as it was all hand work, the mere turning of a light to relieve tie-ups and getting trucks through. They did wear their uniforms which they buy themselves with a small contribution by the city. “Arrests were made at this project and will show the time these men worked there and that they were there to enforce the law and protect public property.” “After examining the record will you be in a position to have the men come in and tell us where the discrepancies are?” Goldman ask Wallace. Pledges Full Report Wallace said he would, adding “we will make a full report so the case can be followed through. I would like to say in regard to Officer Hance he has a complete record of his work on this project and it shows he received only $289.75 while the payroll sheets as quoted in the newspapers said he received $469.50. He has a complete record of his pay and it shows he did not work there at any of the city time.” In describing how he put in the time for the officers, Wilson told Goldman he tried to strike a “happy medium” by giving “an honest count.” Both Petit and Wilson admitted that at no time did they ever tell Dr. Rhone, Garrity or Chief Johnson they were receiving pay for their work at the overpass. When Wilson was asked to identify three men being carried on the payrolls, James Bishop, Joseph Weller, and Charles Howell, he said: “All three of those men were sent to me for jobs by a political friend of mine. I gave them work at night.” Later Wilson was asked to identify the “political friend.” He declined, but admitted the man was not a resident of Camden. Petit admitted that he made the original arrangement for the hiring of city policemen for the state highway work. He said he did so at the request of John Williams, local representative of the state highway department. He said Williams approached him, saying the state needed men for traffic control at the overpass and would pay them $1.35 an hour. He said Wilson took over as “sergeant in charge” and that Wilson paid them in cash. Wilson expiained that he was too busy to keep a detailed account of each officer’s hours. He admitted that he was not at the overpass from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m., as he had filled out some of the time sheets. Drew Lump Sum Wilson also admitted that he personally received all eight policemen’s pay “in a lump sum—cash” from the contractor (who later was reimbursed by the state) and that he paid the other seven men. He also said under questioning by Goldman that he did not deduct any money from the men’s pay for withholding taxes. Several times Wilson was warned by Goldman that anything he said at the examination could be used against him. Wilson said he would answer any question he felt would not incriminate him. Petit entered a general denial of ever working on the overpass project on time for which he was paid by the city. He said Wilson was in charge of the traffic detail at the project, and that he, Petit, had not seen any payrolls that Wilson allegedly made up for payment of the men. At no time did he work continuously 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. as is indicated by the payrolls, Petit said. Worked 77 Hours Petit was unable to answer a question as to the total amount of money he earned on the project. He was paid for the entire time, from April 26 to Sept. 6, he said, except for a period he was off sick with a back ailment from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16. Petit further stated if the records showed he was paid for those two weeks they were wrong. Wilson testified the payroll records showed Petit was paid for the two weeks. Petit was asked whether he delegated to Wilson the authority to run the project and pay the men. He said he did not give Wilson any special authority, but he was detailed there to be in charge. As to the contract he had with the highway department representative, Petit said he was told the rate would be $1.35 an hour, and as far as he knew all the men were paid that rate for the time they worked.