Wednesday, May 25, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Fville police to get labor reps?By BEN NELMS It was the approaching high tide of the politics of controversy last week in Fayetteville. In its wake thus far, the two highest ranking members of the citys police department have given notice of leaving city government. What remains before the tide washes out will be the near-term actions of the mayor and council as citizens and police advocates stand their ground. In addition, Fayetteville officers may soon be represented in labor relations by the Police Benevolent Association. It all may be coincidence, but the simultaneous retirement of Fayetteville Police Chief Johnny Roberts and the resignation of Maj. Steve Ledbetter announced May 19 by Mayor Kenneth Steele came on the heels of an escalating controversy within the department that surfaced in April when former Officer Harold Simmons filed two federal discrimination complaints. Simmons was fired after he refused to apologize to two fellow officers whom he had taped without their knowledge. Such taping, said Simmons in an earlier public meeting, is not without precedent by others in the police department, including Chief Roberts. In April and May, the actions of Roberts and Ledbetter came under increasing scrutiny. A full-blown controversy was fueled at the May 5 council meeting, where emboldened current and former officers and a large number of the public filled the council chamber. Unlike the circumstances at that meeting, several during the May 19 meeting intended to be heard. At the May 19 meeting, Steele announced the personnel moves regarding Roberts and Ledbetter as added agenda items at the meeting. He stated that Roberts was retiring with an effective Aug. 1 and that Ledbetter was resigning with an effective Aug. 31. Both men, Steele said, would be on paid administrative leave until their effective dates. After the meeting, City Manager Joe Morton said the departure of Roberts and Ledbetter was not related to Simmons discrimination complaints. The transition represents a new direction for the police department, he said. Morton said Monday that the Aug. 1 retirement date for Roberts and the Aug. 31 resignation for Ledbetter were mutually agreed upon between the men and the council. The council felt that those dates were within reason, he said, especially since at this point there are no disciplinary issues involved. Those dates allow for a transition to occur, Morton said. The council thought those dates were reasonable and would be productive for the day-to-day running of the department. Regarding the day-to-day operations, Morton acknowledged that, based on Fridays meeting with Steele, senior officers and himself, that he was not in charge of the police department. That runs contrary to statements made May 19 by Steele who, when questioned, told the public that Morton would be in charge of the department. Morton said Monday that senior lieutenant at the department, Lt. Jeff Harris, is currently the in-charge officer at the department for daily operations. Harris, in turn, reports to Morton. The city is in process, said Morton, of advertising internally for an interim police chief. The advertising period will run through May 31. Once the interim chief is in place the city will begin advertising for the permanent chiefs position. In attendance at the packed house May 19 were eight members of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), who took seats on the front row at the meeting. Though they did not address the mayor and council, their presence was obvious. PBA Representative Terry Nowell said after the meeting that the organization was present to provide a show of support for all officers of the police department. We look at this situation as an issue that if one officer can be fired and brought up on charges and theres been no internal complaints about the officers that were supposedly taped, it can be done against any officer, Nowell said. If someone is fired it must be for a justifiable reason and not just because the boss doesnt want you around. Nowell said PBA has currently signed a majority of officers to the organization. enough officers, he said, to form a chapter in Fayetteville. Following the Reports and Comments section of the May 19 agenda, Steele was told there were no city manager or staff reports. Facing a packed meeting with standing room only, Steele called for public comments, waiting approximately three seconds before moving on to call for committee reports, apparently unaware that someone had approached the podium to speak. A total of six of the many in attendance addressed the board, including some who had wanted to speak at the May 5 council meeting but were prohibited from doing so when Mayor Pro-tem Larry Dell ended that portion of the meeting after lengthy comments from Simmons, apparently believing that other comments from the mass of people present would be redundant. Speaking briefly to the board during the public comments portion of the May 19 meeting, Simmons thanked those present for supporting his attempt to get his job back. Simmons said he had worked hard and was standing on his reputation. I am a leader and I think the officers are ready to follow. Im not here to point fingers. I love the people of Fayetteville and Im ready to bring myself back to the guys I love working with, he said. As other citizens prepared to speak, Steele reminded them that the council was prohibited from responding due to the federal discrimination complaints. Taking her turn at the podium, Fayette Middle School secretary Karen Littlejohn told council members that Simmons should have his job back. We were shocked and saddened at the news of his firing, Littlejohn said. Back in January I wrote a letter to each of you. I pleaded for your help in what I thought was taking place here. I got no response and I kind of felt like Harold was being left out to dry. Littlejohn continued, At Fayette Middle we have experienced Harolds honesty, his integrity, his courage, his bravery. He was a father to the fatherless of that school, a help to the helpless and, most importantly, he has been a friend to the friendless. Fayette NAACP President Edward Johnson also addressed the council. Johnson echoed Littlejohns request to have Simmons reinstated and hired as police chief. We want to state on behalf of the citizens of Fayetteville that Maj. Simmons reputation is stellar and therefore, after the consideration of the due process of the EEOC complaint is resolved we hope that the council will consider reinstating Maj. Simmons to his former rank and consider him for chief of police of Fayetteville. Resident Janice Summers spoke to Simmons work in the police department and her support of him. Handel Fitzhealey also spoke, approaching the issue from a broader perspective. The issue is not just about Mr. Simmons or the police department. Its about the entire community, Fitzhealey said. I would like you to bear in mind that the entire community is watching to see how you handle this issue. If Mr. Simmons is reinstated to his original position, you will have sent a strong positive message to the community that indeed the negative reputation that Fayetteville has had over the years will have been changed by your decision. so I would like you to bear in mind closely that the community is watching how this issue is handled. After each speaker the packed council room broke out in loud and often sustained applause. On a related matter, the mayor and council were asked during the public comments section if either they or anyone in the city administration had suggested or advised any city employees that they not attend the Thursday council meeting. Steele responded, No, they have a right to attend the meeting. Morton commented after Steele, saying that he had recently updated police department staff on issues related to the department. Morton said he confirmed with staff that they had put their trust in the city to work through the issues. I said, I dont think any purpose would be served by having a lot of department employees being at the council meeting, but it is a public meeting. And thats exactly what was said, Morton said. The question to the board came after a number of city employees told The Citizen that they were told their attendance at the meeting would not be productive. PBA representative Nowell said after the meeting that his organization currently has the needed majority of Fayetteville police officers now enrolled in PBA. Officers need to know theyve got protection from anyone being able to come in and trump up charges, said Nowell. |
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