News | Peachtree City

Logsdon now in charge of PTC police

Fri, 06/16/2006 - 11:19am
By: John Munford

The Peachtree City Council has officially removed City Manager Bernie McMullen from supervising the police department.

Council voted unanimously Thursday night to have Mayor Harold Logsdon take over that role until the city’s budget is adopted. After that occurs, Logsdon would relinquish the role back to McMullen.

The move was considered necessary in light of McMullen’s DUI arrest nearly two weeks ago as he tried to drive a golf cart from the city’s amphitheater after a concert. He was also charged with possession of an open container of alcohol and possession of alcohol in a city park, the latter of which is a city ordinance.

McMullen’s case will be handled in state court instead of municipal court.

Council’s decision came Thursday night after they met for more than a half hour in executive (closed) session. The vote was taken in public, although no citizens stuck around for the very end, and immediately thereafter the meeting was adjourned.

Logsdon had taken over the supervisory duties over the police department on Monday, June 5 and said he did so based on permission he got from individual council members in one-on-one conversations. Council also met the day after McMullen’s arrest in an emergency called meeting to mull what to do and what information could be publicly released, but they didn’t vote on any matters after meeting in closed session.

Thursday night, Council did not vote to reprimand McMullen in any way and Mayor Harold Logsdon has indicated council supports both McMullen and the police department. Logsdon also has said he didn’t anticipate getting too involved in police affairs.

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Do budget then re-take over?
Submitted by dopplerobserver on Sat, 06/17/2006 - 9:00pm.

What has the budget got to do with supervising the police department, now or then? Makes no sense. I doubt it will ever get as far as the State Court anyway, but that has to be resolved in some way first. We are not being told all that is being discussed, nor should we, but don't tell us just enough to delay, and it not be sensible. When you issue these contracts upon hiring, you might as well assume you will have to shell out tons at a firing. Look at Gwinnett's Librarian, of all people. Man, power goes to some people's head badly. We even throw Presidents out to pasture after eight years.

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Confused
PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Fri, 06/16/2006 - 6:22pm.

If there is no reprimand and the Council supports him, why was he removed from oversight?

And what is magical about adopting the budget for making it okay to return to a job they never found any reason to fault him over?

None of this makes sense or makes legal Logdson taking over the position illegally.

Someone want to explain to me what I am not seeing here?

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


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How Will He Manage?
Submitted by thebiggun on Sat, 06/17/2006 - 6:54pm.

The first question is why is he just being removed during the budget process? Do you really think that makes a difference when he is the one that sets the tone for a balanced budget.

Second after the budget process is concluded, and he is put back in charge of city business as it has been stated by the Mayor, how will the police department report to him while his DUI is pending in court. Seems to me he should not have anything to do with the police department untill his case is settled in court. If that does not happen he will have a major conflict of intrest. And in the future, how will be able to make logical management decisions when it comes to the police department and the officers that arrested him ?

Third it appears that the Mayor and City Council have opened up the door for any unethical behavior that may come along from a city offical. Sure he was off on his own time and doing what half the city does when they are off, DRINK. His comments ( as posted in the on line police reports ) trouble me as an attorney because he stated " do you know who I am " " call the chief " etc. WOW do those cause me concern. If he is on a get even avenue the Mayor and Council have given him all the backing he will need.

Is Mr. McMullen the greatest City Manager that the city has ever had ? Well I don't know because I have only lived here during his tenure. But I bet he is not. Maybe the council just wants to side with him so as not to rock the boat in the city. Is that the best move for the citizens ? Maybe not. In one blog it stated that a city council person went to get him out of jail. Is that true ? If so that that council person should explain their actions. How can they get him out of jail and then vote not to do anything to him. Sounds to me like a brother and sister getting married and then telling everyone they are 4th cousins.

Mr. McMullen may be a great guy but the bottom line is that he tried to use his office and his job to get out of the arrest. That in itself should be grounds for removal from office. Thank God the police officers did not treat him any different from anyone else thay have caught as that would have been the end of DUI arrests in PTC. I am sure every other DUI that has been arrested by the PTC police can now know that the police do not arrest based on who you are or who you know. If I were the arresting officers or anyone else in the police department, I would get ready for the warth or God to come down on them as soon as the City Manager returns to his full time management. It may take awhile for it to happen, but you can bet it will. Then it will prove that sometime doing the right thing is not the best course of action.

PS: You should have taken him home and then use the leverage to get what ever you wanted in the future. Naw, that would have been just the way city council is handeling that problem. Now they have a real lap dog who loves wine.

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