If You Have Specific Information

If any of the officers or candidates to be officers for the Village are CONVICTED of charges that would prevent them from being an officer or carrying a firearm then they will not be an officer. The officers are able to carry a firearm because they have not been convicted of a crime that would preclude them from carrying a firearm according to State and Federal laws. There is nothing more to add.

The officers that have been hired are on probationary status. Six months from their hire date by the ORC they are to be approved by the Council for permanent status. After they are hired full time the officers would be subject to a hearing before the Council to investigate charges brought against them during their time in the service of the Village. I have seen the officers that we have hired perform admirally in a difficult situation. The officers had to deal with hostile council members, mayor and residents while trying to do their jobs while their job status and future were tossed around like a beanbag.

The officers did a difficult job well. You wish to bring in matters concerning an officer that the courts have dismissed and dealt with and the officer was not found guilty. It would appear that you have more information on the matter than I do, but I have no reason to believe that the officers that have been hired cannot do the job that they have been hired to do.

If allegations are made against an Officer they will be investigated. If anyone, resident, fellow officer, or some one from outside the Village makes a complaint it will be investigated. It has to be or the system does not work. I do not believe that the system worked in the past, but I believe that things are in place so the past is not repeated. Only time will tell, but as a Council Member and a member of the Public Safety Committee I believe that the residents are entitled to the best protection that can be provided to them to protect their lives and property. I do not dismiss allegations made by anyone because of my personal feelings towards that person. There are proper procedures to be followed and I can only act when people come forward and put things in writing.

I cannot allievate some people's concerns. All I can say is that the decisions I make and have made I believe that they were and are in the best interests of the Village, not certain individuals or groups of people. Knowing what the Village just came out of I do not want to see a return to those days.

It Does Work That Way

The Village does work that way. Again, I cannot change the fact that it did not work that way in the past, I can only insure that it does work now and in the future.

The Public Safety Committee met again this evening and no one has come forward to provide any additional information. The completion of the background checks was brought up. The Chief was not in attendance to be able to answer the question and it will be brought up at the next Council Meeting.

Again, everything has to be taken into account when a decision is made. Ms. White's personal opinion is just that, her opinion. Others have different opinions than she does about the officers. That is always the big debate, whose opinion is right. Only time will tell, but the Council has the obligation to make the best decision for the best interests of the Village, not just individual residents.

I Agree

In that we are in agreement Ms. White. If residents had known the backgrounds and some of the under the table deals made by some previously in authority they might never had been elected them.

I believe the residents know better now and have made better decisions. They will have to make good decisions in the future as well to insure that those that are not looking out for the best interest of the Village are not placed in a position of trust again. Some have shown that they are not the right people for the job.

WHO?

Who has shown they are not the right person for the job? Did you finally find out about Watkins and what are you going to do?

Come clean. What are the under the table deals?