There’s a lot going on in Bryant these days, and it doesn’t all have to do with growth and progress and those sorts of things that have dominated news for the past couple of years in Saline County’s second-largest city.
    The city is experiencing more problems surrounding a key city official, and it goes without saying that city leaders want the issues surrounding the investigation of Fire Chief Randy Cox laid to rest sooner than later. The city already has changed police chiefs under Mayor Larry Mitchell, who made himself as unavailable as possible to questions during that transformation.
    The problem with the latest issue is that city officials have made life more difficult than it has to be by attempting initially to sidestep the issue when queried by the media. Some city officials went so far as to deny that an investigation or inquiry existed when they knew full well that an investigation or inquiry did exist. Those officials include Mitchell and Shayne King, city personnel director.
    Firefighters brought the investigation to light. They reportedly have been questioned by city officials about a range of issues and people, including Cox, who is on medical leave for reasons that have not been confirmed.
    Suffice it to say, there are obvious problems between firefighters and Cox, who has been chief since 1999. The investigation itself would indicate that problems may exist; however, the confirmation came this past week when members of the newly formed Bryant firefighters union issued a vote of no confidence in their chief.
    The members of International Association of Firefighters Local 4606 offered strong allegations in their vote of no confidence. They said that in their opinion, Cox lacks self control and leadership skills. They said publicly that they question Cox’s integrity, honesty and character. They said the chief has a “seemingly totalitarian philosophy” and they called him arrogant and dictatorial.
    Some city officials have wondered whether the apparent damage between Cox and firefighters is irreparable. We tend to wonder the same; the allegations and character assassination being offered by firefighters would suggest that the problems run much deeper than mere personality conflicts.
    Problems with the city’s fire department began to surface in February when, following hearings, two firefighters who were terminated by Cox were permitted to return to their jobs. City officials said the problems that led to the firefighters’ termination concerned issues with time cards.
    Regardless of how this investigation plays out — whether any evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered concerning anyone in the fire department, or the issues remain contentious in nature and are determined to prohibit a normal and efficient working atmosphere within the department — city officials are going to have to be decisive and forthright in their decisions.
    Any internal investigation is a black eye for a city, but these things do happen. There is no such thing as a perfect world in government at any level. How city officials deal with issues like this ultimately determine how quickly a city recovers and moves forward.
    The one thing that city officials do seem to understand at this point is that Bryant residents, who only recently gained full-time fire protection, deserve a professional and efficient fire department.
    We understand that the investigation must run its course, and that an investigation would not be ongoing without reason. But we also understand that Bryant residents want this issue to be resolved fairly and as quickly as possible.

Today’s editorial was written by Whit Jones, editor of the Courier, on behalf of the newspaper’s editorial board.
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