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Find a chief, panel tells Holland |
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Tuesday, 02 September 2008 |
Benton council committee wants mayor to find permanent head for police department
Members of the Benton City Council’s Health and Safety Committee let it be known Thursday night that they’re ready for Mayor Rick Holland to choose a permanent police chief.
State law gives the mayor the authority to hire and fire all department heads, including the police and fire chiefs, unless the council overrides the decision by a two-thirds vote.
Capt. Roger Gaither has been serving as interim chief since April when Gary Sipes resigned the chief’s position to take over the helm of the Jacksonville Police Department.
At the start of the meeting, the committee chairman, Alderman Steve Lee, said he and Alderman Bill Donnor had spoken a month ago to the mayor regarding the need to choose a permanent chief.
“We asked him to ask for resumes and fill the chief’s position,” Lee said. “He didn’t seem to see the need to hurry, but I explained that any organization drifts without a chief [or director].
“You’re sort of in limbo,” Lee said. “Since that conversation, several things have happened that enforces our thoughts about this.”
Lee pointed out that he does not like to cross the line from legislative, which the council is, to administrative, and said he has criticized other aldermen for doing this in the past. However, he said he believes there is a need for the committee and/or council to push for action on this issue.
Alderman Larry Wolf said several people have asked him whether the city is searching for a new chief, “and if not, why not?”
Wolf said it appears that the “department has no direction right now.” He said he has discussed the matter with a couple of officers who “don’t understand why a chief hasn’t been named.”
Alderman Brad Moore said he also has had inquiries about the status of the police chief.
“If he (Holland) doesn’t want to hire one, he can pass this on to the Civil Service Commission,” Lee said.
“Bill and I went to him with good intent, but we left with a bad taste in our mouths,” he added
In years past, before state law changed, the chiefs of the police and fire departments were chosen jointly by the mayor and the commission.
Mayor Holland was not present when this exchange was occurring, but arrived at the session later.
At the point he entered the discussion, he said he has been “recruiting resu-mes” and has had “some good returns.”
In response to a question from a committee member, he said he has not advertised the position opening yet.”
“I think it’s been long enough,” Lee said, “and something needs to be done. That department needs direction for the future and I think it’s in limbo.”
Gaither, who was present from the start of the meeting, said he currently is working on a budget for the department.
“Lots of things are casting a dark shadow,” Lee said.
He asked Gaither if employees in the police department are permitted to speak to others “without retaliation?”
At that point, Holland responded, “That’s ridiculous.”
Gaither said he encourages “openness,” which is appreciated.
Lee disagreed, saying that some of the employees “are afraid to say what they think. “
Donnor expressed a concern about morale at the department.
“I’m hearing that morale is as bad as it’s ever been,” he said.
Holland took issue with that statement, saying he is of the opinion that “morale is good.”
“Have you talked to the street department? How’s morale there?” he asked Lee.
Lee reminded Holland that his committee doesn’t address Street Department matters. “That’s not the issue here,” he said.
In discussing the department, Lee made reference to the recent termination of Officer Lantz Smith, noting that a review board at the police department disagreed with Gaither’s decision to terminate Smith.
That board, whose decisions are non-binding, had recommended a lesser punishment for Smith.
‘’The review board did not have the complete personnel file for Smith,” Gaither said.
At that point, Holland asked Lee, “Why are we here? Is this a hearing? I didn’t know I was on trial. I’m not going to be grilled by you as if I’ve done something wrong.
“You’re way out of line here,” Holland said and left the room. However, he re-turned a short time later.
Donnor pointed out that he personally was not criticizing Gaither.
“You’re doing the job you were asked to do.”
The committee also addressed the department’s code enforcement program, the need for additional patrol officers, the importance of school resource officers, whether to add narcotics officers to the police department staff and the need for additional vehicles.
Instead of a narcotics unit, Gaither said he would prefer to establish a street crimes unit, which, he believes would be more effective in Benton.
He also said he would prefer that code enforcement officers be civilian employees, rather than certified police officers.
Lee and other committee members agreed that it would be good for each of the city’s five wards to have a code enforcement officer, but Lee had recommended that these be police officers in order to protect their jobs in the event of a potential catastrophe where layoffs might occur.
“God forbid that this won’t happen again,” he said in reference to layoffs that occurred several years ago. These severely affected the police and fire departments.”
Wolf referred to the code enforcement department moving under the police department during Sipes’ administration because of his background in this area.
It was noted that code enforcement issues can be related to criminal activity.
Gaither said people should view the police officers as the department that protects the safety of the citizens. “It’s a matter of perception,” he said.
Gaither has recently made some changes in the code enforcement staff, moving Sgt. Charlie Carty to the department because of health issues.
Carty has the medical authorization to do code enforcement work, but can no longer meet the physical standards required for a police officer, he said.
“Officer [Bobby] Shell (who has overseen the code enforcement program) can go back on the street,” Gaither said.
In the discussion of school resource officers, Gaither said he would like for each elementary school to have a school resource officer, but he did not realistically think this would be happening in the near future.
During the vehicle discussion, Gaither said the department needs 10 new vehicles.
He said many of the vehicles now are holding up well because they are driving by only one officer who takes the vehicle home and is responsible for its care.
“A nice patrol car is a morale-booster,” Moore noted.
Many of the recommendations the committee addressed are contingent upon additional tax revenue.
The Citizens Public Safety Committee, which studied the public safety departments of the city over several months, has recommended that a 1/8-cent tax proposal be placed on the ballot next year to meet many of the city’s public safety needs.
Also addressed in the meeting were 12-hour shifts, which the police officers have, compared to 8-hour shifts. Wolf believes officers would be more effective working eight hours, but Gaither said the 12-hour shift plan is favored by officers and helps to recruit new ones.
Gaither also said the department has a critical need for a warrants officer. Each month numerous warrants are received that are never served because the individuals cannot be located.
“It may take two or three days to find one of them (person sought in warrant),” Lee said.
“We don’t have enough people to serve warrants,” Gaither added.
Donnor asked Gaither this question: “If there’s one thing you get, what would want most?”
Gaither quickly said, “We need more people.” |
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