§ 4. Any commissioner of police, superintendent of police, chief of
police, or other officer or officers, having the management, control or
direction of the police force of any city of the first or second class
in this state, (excepting such cities which on December thirty-first,
nineteen hundred and ten, had in force and operation a three platoon
system) who shall fail to divide such force into three platoons within
the time prescribed in section one of this act shall be deemed to have
forfeited his office and, upon the written petition of any citizen of
the city in which such violation took place, must be removed therefrom
by the supreme court of the judicial district within which such city is
contained. A copy of such petition must be served upon the officer
accused and he shall have the right to appear and to give evidence and
to be heard in his defense.