Officer in Taser incident requests retirement
read more recent story comments Reader comments| Reality Check Thursday, July 1, 2010: 6:49 pm More from Reality Check  | To the Mayor: if this really is you, don't get involved on this message board. Unless you have plenty of valium or qualudes - or like playing in the mud. All this serves is for a bunch of mostly old goofballs playing on their computers complaining about everything that working civilians are trying to do; teachers, police, firefighters, politicans, etc. You will never please a few of them and never ever convince any of them anything outside of their one-sided views or personal gossip/mistruths. By the way, Liberty chastized a teacher on her for using the word "handicapped" and now has used it repeatedely, for what I have read is for a young boy with "behavior" problems. Use your time and energy to solve real problems and real issues with real people. |
| concerned Thursday, July 1, 2010: 6:50 pm More from concerned | liberty is right if i was observed slapping my 10 year old out of control child in public or using a weapon even if i had no other way of controlling him i would be siiting in jail right now so why is a trained officer who should know how to deal with a variety of situations not be held by the same standards and if in fact we dont know the whole truth then fine what are they hiding this whole situation stinks |
| concerned Thursday, July 1, 2010: 6:56 pm More from concerned | reality check i take offence to your comment and as you are here as well you might want to rethink your advice to the mayor just a bit of friendly advise wouldnt want people thinking you are an old goofball playing on your computer and complaining and all as you would never do that nor stereotype people for their opinion now would you |
| Liberty Thursday, July 1, 2010: 8:14 pm More from Liberty |
Mayor, You have a tough job, as you know and don't need me to tell you that. I do realize you can patrol and watch every movement of every city employee 27-7. I'm not the first one with knowledge of over extended police power stories you have come across but I'm sicken at the outrageous use of this against a meek God fearing lady who doesn't believe in suing people and is now scared to death of reprisal. I was talking to her on my cel while out of town when this episode was starting in progress and told her to kick them out of her building but she was afraid as they threatened to throw her in jail. She had to hang up. No court order, but just a friendly favor for an investor friend. When convinced to get legal representation she found out there was never a police report filed and then she realized she was no longer dealing with police but with thugs and became terrified. She has their names and their may be store video or cel phone recording of at least part of this. Mayor I can't make someone come forward when they fear for their self. I can say this probably happens across the country in many small communities because of a lower expectation of professionalism, lower pay, and a close small town group of buddies that don't want to make waves. This kind of stuff has to be dealt with and you probably think that I'm harsh a big mouth. I do have police friends and a few very close. I know the politics and interdepartmental rules and standards that are expected. I know that there are rules that are broken by departments as a whole for maybe some understandable reasons but nevertheless broken. I will say this. The definition of corruption is when a public employees job become more important than the confidence the public has in them. I have come down on your handling of the open meeting law avoidance and unless you had a re-vote on that matter that the paper hasn't printed I still must hold you accountable as I'm sure you would want me to. But, I have to say I support you in cleaning up this town and breaking apart what's known as the good old boy system. You will be well served in this endeavor and even though you'll loose some political friends you'll gain the respect of the voters and that's the only ones you are suppose to serve anyway. I know there are processes for all this but I think a couple of straighten up sessions with with your departments personnel showing your commitment in enforcing rules and the code of ethics would go a long way. I also think the department must rewrite it's policy on the use of tasers.This is a very expensive legal nightmare waiting to happen to our town. With the recent use of tasers on an 86 year old nursing home patient that was waiting on emergency help but the police got their first and considered her convulsions as an aggressive action the jury polls of this nation are just waiting to bury some one. Besides it makes cops lazy and hated , neither lends itself to good community respect for our laws. . |
| Liberty Thursday, July 1, 2010: 8:29 pm More from Liberty |
RC you are right. The reason I used the status of handicap was in the defense of a child who was assaulted by officers that wasn't properly trained to assess a child's mental state and used their weapons, not to subdue and apprehend but rather to treat the persons illness and change a child's behavior. Even though not out of malice but just incompetency. That's a little different than letting a ( bad) GEC teacher use it as a definition of a deficiency in someone that caused their teacher to have poor job performance ratings. Even though they were paid to teach the child to begin with. When I had employees who complained about their job I fired them. This isn't about you. I don't think you were the one complaining. Keep up your good mission. |
| Liberty Thursday, July 1, 2010: 8:34 pm More from Liberty | That should have read "You have a tough job, as you know and don't need me to tell you that. I do realize you can't patrol and watch every movement of every city employee 27-7. |
| Liberty Thursday, July 1, 2010: 8:47 pm More from Liberty |
Tom, I think you're coming in on this a little late and are missing the details. The officers didn't consider this a crime and of course there is no law preventing a 10 year old from acting up ( tantrum, though that's not what he was having) especially for having bad reactions to physic drugs. The day care was in fear of the possibility of him hurting other children but no crime. They acted completely to give electro shock treatment to change a child's actions with no intent to apprehend him or to arrest him for a crime which is the only thing they could do legally. Bad judgments. I think it would be way out of line to accuse the Mayor of punishing a officer just because he ran for office at one time in his life. It happens all the time in the sheriffs department among friends. . |
| The Mayor Thursday, July 1, 2010: 9:17 pm More from The Mayor | Liberty: Reference your comment of July 1. Yes, it is me...and I appreciate your comments and honesty. I only hope you can get the business person involved to please contact me. As for the open door violation, there was not a vote taken in closed session. It was definately done in full view of the Council Meeting. In fact, I asked for more nominations from the council members before taking the vote. I also ran this past the State Attorney for the Press Association (same gentleman called by the reporter), explained how the process was handled and he agreed there was no violation of the open door policy. As you are aware, sometimes everyone doesn't see things in the same light and impressions can be wrong. Now, I think I'm going to take the other writer's advice....and get off this blog as I know everyone has their own opinion and, try as we may, we will never agree. Thank you. |
| Ratcatcher Thursday, July 1, 2010: 9:23 pm More from Ratcatcher |
And don't forget about the one that wrecked his squad car when he couldn't make a sharp curve that the drunk he was chasing navigated just fine. |
| Greg Thursday, July 1, 2010: 10:14 pm More from Greg | Mayor, I would personally like to thank you for taking the time to comment here on this blog. I know you must be careful from a legal standpoint, but as a voter and concerned taxpayer, I still like hearing from you directly on some of these issues. I also like seeing you trying to dig into the "rumors" to separate fact from fiction, and I'd encourage you to continue doing so. Many of us are disgusted by the way local governments have been run for many years, and as I see it, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem. Thanks for voicing your opinion here. |
| Liberty Thursday, July 1, 2010: 10:42 pm More from Liberty | Mayor, Contrary to some who are bitter you'll find this forum an extremely well represented cross section of city voters who take interest in how things are run. They come from many different circles of influence ( church, work, associations)some do extensive research on issues and yes some play in the mud but you're smart enough to sort through what should be an invaluable resource for a local elected servant. This is the pulse of the community that you will never get from a stagnant inner political circle. of course if you didn't already understand that there wouldn't be a Handle on here of " The Mayor" I can appreciate that. |
| ForthecitizensofWT Thursday, July 1, 2010: 11:00 pm More from ForthecitizensofWT | I agree with Greg. I am happy the Mayor is stepping up and talking and giving what input he can at this time. However I dont think Jennings deserves to be able to retire. he should be fired for his actions and past actions. He lied and left things out of his report and slapped a child that 2 officers should have been able to subdue without slapping. If my 10 year old was acting like this child in question I would expect the officer to get order and if that mean getting his attention with a very short tase then so be it. Buyt slapping a child is nothing but asking for more problems from the child or adult at that matter. I just hope the pension board refuses his request and if they dont then the family come after the city and him personally. And LIBERTY if you have all the answers and wisdom why dont you run for Mayor next election and see if you can whip this town in to perfection! |
| 36 comments found | |
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