100 at city meeting at park

Concern over the Gallatin Police Department prompted an estimated 85 to 100 citizens to attend a public meeting of the Gallatin Board of Aldermen on Oct. 25, convened in the shelter house at Dockery Park.

A large crowd was anticipated. During previous recent public meetings of the board, a smaller group of citizens, including Gallatin officers Todd Watson and Darren Price, confronted aldermen on police issues.

Last Wednesday the board met in special session closed to the public for personnel discussion. A number of citizens congregated outside city hall awaiting answers to issues raised and confronted board members as they individually left the premises. Police officers then accompanied the group upstairs into the office of clerk/administrator Jason Helton before eventually dispersing at the urging of City Attorney Bill Lewis.

Some of these citizens orchestrated efforts to broaden publicity about issues they want to discuss. Regional daily newspaper and television reporters were notified for coverage. Handbills were circulated at Gallatin residences urging people to attend Monday’s meeting at Dockery Park. Petitions have also circulated supporting the continued employment of current officers Todd Watson and Darren Price.

Mayor L.B. Davis opened the meeting promptly at 6 p.m., reminding the standing-room-only crowd that he was convening an official public meeting and not a public hearing. He emphatically and repeatedly stated that the board of aldermen have not and are not planning to dissolve the Gallatin Police Department.

The mayor said citizen petitions regarding the DARE program were based on misinformation. He denied rumors that the substance abuse program, presented by Gallatin officers in local schools to youth, would be discontinued. Mayor Davis expressed assurance that as long as the current board of aldermen were in office, the DARE program would continue.

“A number of personnel issues do exist,” the mayor said. “These need to be resolved by the council in their work as a council. We really cannot speak further on this tonight, due to the complexity of the laws involved. But it is correct that the council is in the process of reviewing personnel in the police department.”

Twenty people presented comments. Applause erupted about a dozen times during the 50-minute session. Mayor Davis requested each presenter to limit remarks to three minutes, a restriction resented by several who had prepared remarks. The mayor explained that the board intended to take note of issues and opinions expressed without immediate response. Rather, a statement responding to issues voiced during Monday’s meeting would be presented later.

Each person speaking was asked to identify himself/herself. The progression of those addressing the board and a brief summary of their presentations is as follows:

Tim Andrew, as a representative for several citizens — Sunshine Law issues are being ignored by this council; wanted to know if Alderman Larry Barnes actually told a city police officer during a previous public meeting, “We don’t need a police department”; expressed disgust about the time limit imposed on those wanting to address the aldermen: “We didn’t get any answers to any of our questions at the other meetings, and I can see we won’t get any answers tonight either.”

Sherry Bridgeman, as Chairman of 911 Emergency Response — questioned Alderman Barnes’ comments, specifically about a request for an officer to assist in recovering items at a residence; stated that the city council does not understand the 911 law: “Dispatchers cannot determine priorities”; requested a public apology from Alderman Barnes when he questioned the costs involved as city officers participated in a funeral procession for a slain state trooper and criticized the other aldermen for not contradicting these and other comments made by Alderman Barnes; raised the issue of whether the city administrator or the police chief runs the police department, using a request she alleges that Alderman Robert Snidow made for a city officer to open the city dump when no officer was on duty at the time.

Donna Jurrens, speaking on behalf of law enforcement, law enforcement families and citizens — criticized comments by Alderman Barnes during the trooper’s funeral procession, stating that citizens of Gallatin were misrepresented by Mr. Barnes and demanded his apology (applause).

Jason Smith, Community Ambulance District employee — presented petitions with 370 signatures as endorsement to retain current police officers; emphasized the devotion of the two current officers: “We demand they remain employed and that they be allowed to hire at least one more full-time police officer”; noted that police are often first responders ahead of ambulance personnel at emergency scenes; stated Gallatin police officers are the only law officers in Daviess County trained and qualified to provide DARE instruction and that any disruption in the DARE program is unacceptable; “Let the department be run by qualified personnel, not the city council” (applause); stated that the city council should not determine which citizens should or should not be ticketed by city police officers (applause).

Sharon Wayne, citizen — questioned whether the 3-minute time limit provided a proper forum, cutting people off: “If you’re doing the same thing to them as you’re doing to us, I can see why you’re having this problem.”

Jim Eskridge, former alderman — contrasted the 3-minute limit to a 15-minute limit imposed before when the city administrator was at issue; stated the city has thrown away more money on zoning, administration, GIDA and other things rather than upgrading the police department; urged the aldermen to deal with personnel problems, if they exist, but keep the police presently employed; “When we interviewed for new policemen, many (applicants) scared me to death. We’ve trained police who moved on because we’re not paying enough. You might have problems with them that I don’t know, but we’ve become a training ground for training policemen. I just don’t see bringing someone new in that we don’t know. They’re doing a good job as far as I know. Hire your personnel, put him (a chief) in charge of the police department and get the hell out of the way and let him do his job. (Applause) That doesn’t just go with the police department but all your department heads.” (Applause)

Jean Eskridge, citizen — stated that citizens owe the officers a vote of thanks, and that the same goes to fire department and ambulance crew members: none get paid enough for the job they do.

Arlo Jurrens, former city police officer — stated current circumstances “rip open wounds” which led to his suspension, clarifying that the suspension was not for being unprofessional or discourteous to the public but for arresting a person who declared it would cost him his job; criticized the city administrator (Jason Helton) for appearing in police court with the defendant and then leaving with the defendant. “I just don’t want Todd (Chief Watson) or Darren (Officer Price) to get the same treatment I got.”

Dave Walker, citizen — Questioned whether city police are sometimes too aggressive and denied receiving or expecting any special privileges; noted the unsolved theft of his stolen pickup; focused on the aldermen’s efforts in financial matters: “Our city was in bad shape until we got this council, (applause) …financially, we were just about to go belly up. A lot of people here are concerned citizens but are people who don’t have all the facts.” (applause)

Kris Critten, citizen — spoke to the responsibilities people face when elected not only to the city council but also to school boards and other local government entities.

Susie Tull, citizen — endorsed the efforts of the city policemen using a personal family circumstance as an example where city policemen were genuinely concerned about helping: “All three officers gave my son their telephone number, offering to call regardless of the time of day or night. The council can’t please everybody, but these officers have meant a lot to me and my family.” (applause)

Kathy Campbell, citizen — expressed concern about the comments made by Alderman Barnes concerning the funeral procession for the slain state patrolman; stated that this entire community should be like a huge family; noted when city police officers brought the whole shift of workers to the nursing home when the weather was bad (applause).

Seth Sharrah, citizen — endorsed the efforts of Chief Watson and Officer Price; reemphasized the role of city police as first responders in emergency situations; “They’re doing their job and should be left alone.” (Applause)

Marjorie Lockridge, citizen — questioned if the aldermen were going to dissolve the police department, prompting Mayor Davis to again state that Gallatin will have city police

Roberta Hallock — questioned that once the media departs, will the aldermen dismiss any criticism by saying what’s said is taken out of context?

Frank Flanders, citizen — questioned who will staff the city police department; stated that the decision to dismiss former officer Jurrens was a mistake. (applause)

Steve Evans, citizen — offered an observation that Gallatin has enjoyed good police, ambulance and fire protection for many years; endorsed the aldermen’s work and the use of a city administrator to conduct civic business, and expressed appreciation for their efforts; “A personnel problem is probably the hardest to deal with as a board, harder than financial issues. If we all knew all the facts, I think most of us would come up with the same direction in the decisions made. I think the city administrator is the right way.” (applause)

Jim Wayne, citizen — endorsed the use of a city administrator; asked that the council not make decisions based on personal feelings and requested that answers to the questions being raised by citizens be prompt.

Mary Ann King, business owner —requested more police patrolling around local businesses, noting her business suffered a break-in; “Gallatin is going to blow away if we don’t keep our businesses here in town.” (applause)

Jean Nickerson, citizen — asked why there weren’t more arrests for drivers committing J-turns in town, especially near the post office.

No other citizens offered comments. Mayor Davis announced the end of public comment at 6:50 p.m. before turning to other business matters. Before most of the crowd filed out of the park building, the mayor applauded the interest citizens are taking in city government and challenged those attending the meeting to consider running for alderman.

Mayor Davis offered the following remarks:

“I stepped in as mayor for the three months until the next election day, and then continued since no one ran for the office. I appreciate the other four people who serve on this board enough to know that they’re working as hard as they can. They don’t have axes to grind. They want to do the very best that they can.

“Two years ago the aldermen serving at that time didn’t want me to really know what was going on because they were afraid that the city’s finances would cause me to quit. This city has been in terrible straits, financially. These people serving on the board have spent a lot of nights looking at the numbers until their eyes and minds were tired. In all truthfulness, we’re still nearly as bad off financially but, I believe, we’ve turned the corner.

“It’s tough financially for our city right now, just like it sometimes gets for many families here. We’re asking city workers to work twice as hard to keep making ends meet. If the city were forced to declare bankruptcy, we’d all be terribly affected. But we’ve made the turn toward better days.

“In the last election, these people who now serve on the board were the only ones who seemed willing to fight the fight. I hope all of you so concerned will consider running for elected office. We could use new blood. This is public service in every essence of the word. It would enlighten you so much, so much that you really have no idea how much.”