On August 25, 1955, four temporary patrolmen of the Norwood Police Department, led by Nicholas Dostito, appeared before the Board of Selectmen to petition for permanent intermittent status. Having served in temporary capacities for over two years, the officers noted that they had repeatedly taken the Civil Service examination for permanent patrolmen every time it was offered.
The officers voiced frustration with the civil service system, explaining that despite achieving top scores on their exams, they were consistently bypassed for permanent appointments due to the statutory preference given to disabled veterans on the eligibility lists. Without a change in their classification, they argued, they could continue taking exams indefinitely without ever securing the permanent positions they sought.
Selectmen Debate and Executive Denial
Selectman Harry B. Butters voiced strong support for the officers’ appeal, pointing out that the men were themselves veterans who may have experienced active service or combat conditions exceeding those of some disabled veterans on the list. Butters moved to appoint the four officers as permanent intermittent patrolmen, but his motion died for lack of a second.
While the officers initially left the open meeting with assurances that the board would review their situation, the selectmen subsequently voted during a closed executive session later that evening to deny the request and maintain the officers on temporary status.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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