In a special meeting this past Friday, March 14, the Franklinton Board of Aldermen voted to hire one new fulltime police officer.
At the same time, the Board of Aldermen did not hire an investigator for the town police department, nor was a new volunteer reserve officer authorized.
Citing a shortage of officers, Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown had requested the hiring of the police officer and the investigator, and authorization for a new volunteer reserve officer.
After the meeting, Brown said he was thankful that one new officer was approved for his shorthanded department, but he was disappointed that the other new officers were not approved.
He pointed out that the police department now has a shortage of six police officers and five reserve officers.
Brown noted that in an previous Board of Aldermen meeting, a question was asked about whether the three jobs he wanted to fill had been properly advertised. The chief said the positions had, in fact, been advertised in accordance with the town’s policy. And he said the application form for employment with the police department as a reserve or as a fulltime officer is fully available on the town’s website.
The chief released a statement to The Era-Leader expressing his viewpoint regarding the unfilled police positions. That statement follows:
“What we are experiencing isn't a policy issue; it’s retribution, a proverbial reckoning if you will. A reckoning over perceived transgressions which are ingrained in the very dirt of this town and country. Transgressions which run so deep they dictate policy, preference and political privilege. One can't however sit upon a moral high horse when the record clearly reflects past decisions and votes which contradict the very argument being presented.
My integrity was called into question by alleging cronyism is at play within the Franklinton Police Department. I don't recall cronyism being an issue during the last administration when I was illegally removed as the Chief of Police and replaced by the Mayor's "Masonic Brother, someone he could trust." I don't recall cronyism being a factor in the unilateral decision by the previous administration to bypass the council and create two new positions within the police department and then promote officers to fill those positions without my input or approval. These are just two of many examples of when cronyism has actually been documented, and the council member who accused me of cronyism stood in favor of each decision.
The citizens we serve have witnessed over the past four years an overwhelming attack on our department and myself. It began with my illegal removal and on to a fictitious ethics complaint, both of which were invalid. I have been publicly berated in council meetings and my officers were denied basic benefits with regard to their retirement, health insurance, and payroll deductions. These aren't isolated incidents but rather a pattern of illegalities, policy violations and incompetence. Again, most of these acts were vehemently advocated for and defended by those now professing adherence to rule.
The Mayor and Council have other alternatives to hire employees when the decision is made where an emergency exist. I would argue that a mass shooting such as the one that occurred on March 2, and multiple drug overdoses constitute an emergency. This practice has been used on many occasions by a Mayor and Council working together in the best interests of the town. Previous administrations understood their role was to provide public safety to the residents of our town. They understood that an unnecessary delay was fiscally irresponsible, detrimental to employees and a threat to overall public safety.
This sound logic and ability to work together in order to accomplish common goals seems to have escaped our commonsense grasp. We are a town in decline of trustworthy representation and we are going nowhere and we're going there fast. I am morally convinced the hardworking employees of our town look at our representatives like parents fighting. In the end, only those without the ability to make the decisions end up suffering the most.
There is hope however. I have hope for the future of our community because I see the positive things being done by good people. My hope is our government will put aside the differences, positively govern for the people and leave all the semantics at home.
I have given my life to the service of my country and my community. This isn't a two meeting a month commitment for me. I am accountable twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and I have taken an oath to provide for the safety and security of our town. Wouldn't we be so fortunate to have representatives who chose people over politics and made the same commitment I and my officers have in service of others?”
