Chap. 296.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 84 and 86 of the
charter of the city of Richmond.

Approved May 18, 1887.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections cighty-four and eighty-six of the charter of the city
of Richmond, as amended by- an act approved April two,
eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, entitled an act to amend
and re-cnact sections cighty-four, eighty-five, eighty-six,
eighty-cight, eighty-nine, ninety, ninety-one, and ninety-two,
and repeal ninety-three, of the charter of the city of Rich-
mond, be and the same are hereby amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

§ 84. The police department of the city of Richmond shall
be under the general control and management of police com-
missioners thereof, who shall consist of the mayor and six
citizens, any four of whom shall constitute a quorum. The
mayor shall be ex officio president of the board, and shall
presi’e at its meetings, and sball have a vote in case of a tie.

n his absence the other members may select a president pro
tempore. The other members shall be F. M. Boykin, of
Monroe ward; E. D. T. Myers, of Clay ward; L. C. Figg, of
Jefferson ward; J. W. Beveridge, of Jackson ward; E. B. Ad-
dison, of Madison ward, and J. B. Welsh, of Marshall ward,
voters of said citys holding no office, State, federal, or muni-
cipal, who shall serve for the following periods, respectively,
that is tosuy: F. M. Boykin till July, eighteen hundred and
cighty-seven; EK. D. T. Myers till July, eighteen hundred and
eighty-cight; L. C. Fige till July, cighteen bundred and
eighty-nine; J. W. Beveridge till July, eighteen hundred and
ninety; Jé. B. Addison till July, eighteen hundred and ninety-
one, and J. B. Welsh till July, eighteen hundred and ninety-
two, and as the said terms shall expire, the vacancies in the
board thus created, shall be filled by election in the month of
July of each of said years by the two branches of the city
council, in the following manner: At least ten days before a
joint mecting of the council for such election, as is herein
provided for, an order for such clection shall be entered on
the journals of the two branches of the council, and a copy
of the same be forwarded to the board of public interests of
said city. The said board shall select by a viva voce vote,
which shall be recorded in their minutes, and a copy of the
same forwarded with their nominations to the joint meeting,
three persons from each ward for which the vacancy is to be
tiled, which persons shall be voters in said city, and shall not
aold any office, municipal, State, or federal, and their names
shall be certified to the city council by the president of the
board of public interests as the persons from whom such
slection is to be made, together with the recorded vote of said
board of public interests, as above required. From the three
names thus sent in to the council, the said council, mecting in
joint session, shall proceed to clect one to serve for the period
of six years; but no person shall be elected who shall not
reccive a majority in each branch of the council, of the whole
number of members elected to each branch. And in case
there is no election, or any person elected declines to act, or
whenever there is a vacancy, the board of public interests
shall, in like manner, proceed to nominate to the council three
times as many persons from the ward in which the vacancy
occurs as there are vacancies, and said vacancy shall be tilled
as above described; and as the terms of the commissioners
cbosen under this act expire, the vacancies in the board thus
made, shall be filled by sclecting members for six years,
whereby all will serve six years, and one be elected in July
of each year in the manner hereinbefore provided. The said
board may adopt such rules and regulations for the govern-
ment thereof; it may establish, promulgate, and enforce
proper rules, regulations, and orders for the good government
of the police force; and in any investigation pertaining to
their dutics, shall have power to send for persons and papers,
and by their president to administer an oath: provided that
said rules and regulations shall not in any way conflict with
any ordinance of the city council. The members of said
board may be removed at any time by a vote of two-thirds
of the city council clected, for good cause, upon proper
charges and specifications made and proved. If any membor
shall resign, cease to be a voter, or be a candidate for any
office, federal, State, or municipal, there shall be at once a
vacancy in said board which shall be tilled as aforesaid; and
when any member of the police commission is named as an ap-
plicant or candidate, or as proper to be supported as a candi-
date for any office, or a proper person to receive such oftice,
the president shall, or any member of the board may, notify
him that his name is mentioned in connection with such
office; and if said member do not, within two days after tho
receipt of such note, file with the president of the board his
statement in writing, that he is neither a candidate nor ap-
plicant tor such office, and that be will not serve, nor accept
it if elected or appointed, the said board shall declare his
place vacant, which shall be filled in the manner hercinbefore
prescribed. When vacancies are filled for any cause, they
shall be filled only for the unexpired term.

§86. Tho police force of tho city shall be appointed by the
board of police commissioners as vacancies occur, and as
herein provided. The said force shall consist of a chief of
police, surgeon of police, and as many officers and privates
as the city council may by ordinance prescribe, except that
the force, officers and privates, shall not be reduced below its
present number. The present police force shall bold their
positions for the terms for which they were appointed, and
as the said terms shall expire, new appointments shall be made
by the said board of police commissioners. All new ap-
pointments, including the chief, shall be for three years. The
pay of the police shall be fixed by the city council by ordi-
nance. The chief of police shall be responsible for the disci-
pline and efficiency of the police foree. All orders shall pass
through him, except so far as the rules, regulations, and
orders of the board of police commissioners, authorize orders
to be given direct to any subordinate on the police force. Ip
addition to the power of dismissal vested in the chief, any
member of the force, including the chief, may be removed,
suspended, or fined by the board of police commissioners
upon proper cause shown, and in cases where a fine is imposed,
may order the same to be deducted from his pay. The board
of public interests shall remain as now constituted by ordi-

nances ot the said city, and the police commissioners ap-
pointed by or elected under this act, shall continue in office
until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.