Payne gives L.B. sales presentation

LONG BEACH - Harrison County Sheriff George Payne Jr.

   
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

"PLEASE VOTE"

Harrison County Police Department to
take over the city of Long Beach, Mississippi Police
Department

But only after the Harrison County Supervisors have their say.

How supervisors spent $1 million in 'discretionary" funds
Double click here

Sheriff's Department can help city as its law agency, he says

By KRISTEN TREADWELL
THE SUN HERALD

Friday, August 18, 2006

Could this action by Mayor Bass and Alderman to stop paying
Police Chief salaries when the people within the department 
are not the departments Police Chiefs.

I would think the people that are being paid the salaries of and 
acting Police Chief should be liable for paying the tax money 
back to the City of Long Beach, Mississippi.

LONG BEACH - Harrison County Sheriff George Payne Jr. asked the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday to allow his department to take over the city's policing. Aldermen discussed the proposal, but didn't say when they might act on it.

In order to weed-out the police, who are being over paid by the taxpayers, it would be for the best to have Harrison County Sheriff George Payne Jr. to run Long Beach, Mississippi police department.

I would like to obtain a copy of law showing the once you have become an, "acting" police chief; your salary will always be as a police chief.

"What I'm going to offer to you tonight is just an option to look at," Payne told the aldermen during a meeting packed by residents, police officers and reservists. "I was asked to come here and give you an alternative."

I believe any alternative at this point is a good cost saving alternative.

I missed WLOX-13/ABC's article on the Tuesday Meeting but I am asking for a copy of the Tuesday's meeting.

If you would like to purchase the tape from WLOX-13/ABC, just call or visit WLOX in order to fill-out their request form. 

The cost of the tape is $75.00, or gives me a call and I will show the tape for free. 

Payne presented a slide show outlining the services the Sheriff's Department could provide, as well as roughly $650,000 in savings for the city. He said the proposal would give Long Beach the same amount of policing it has now, but it would also eliminate 18 positions by streamlining administration and other functions.

I like the way Sheriff Payne talks, but I feel he will have a fight on his hands by eliminating 18 positions.

This is where the "good ole boy" problem starts.

Remember the K9 dog the Mayor borrow from the Long Beach Police Sgt., and then had the taxpayers pay for a $10,000.00 insurance policy if something happened to the dog.

Elias benefactor in dog deal 

Among those who would lose their jobs under the proposal are several high-ranking officers who have lawsuits against the city stemming from a sexual harassment allegation against the former police chief. Their attorney has threatened further legal action if they lose their jobs.

That's what I call cleaning up the police department, and the best way to go.

It's not often that you see any clearing from the top down, so it refreshing to know this will happen if Sheriff Payne Jr. takes over the Long Beach Police Department. 

Mayor Robert Bass said the city wouldn't be forced into an agreement.

Let's take a vote; let's see how many people in Long Beach would like to see the Harrison County Police Department run Long Beach, Mississippi Police Department.  

Long Beach rejects water-sewer resolution

"Certainly nobody's twisting any arms," he said. "People feel strongly; they feel strongly against it and they feel strongly for it."

REMEMBER: MONEY, POWER, & PERKS + FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE = CORRUPTION

And in this case the taxpayers are the ones getting the shaft.

In response, one resident at the meeting said he didn't know of anyone who was for the takeover.

It is not a takeover it is a clean-up, there is a vast difference between the two.

Any resident which is opposed to saving the taxpayers money and removing over-paid X-Acting Police Chief's has a reason for his/her actions.

After making his presentation, Payne left the meeting before aldermen and residents could comment.

Smart man.

County supervisors maintain they have the final say over any contract between Long Beach and Harrison County, and that Payne overstepped his bounds by making the proposal without consulting the board.

My father instilled in my brother, sister, and I, three things.

Do Not - Lie - Steal - or Cheat.

I will leave it up too the voters and taxpayers of Harrison County to decide if the County Supervisors should have the final say.

Long Beach has not had a permanent police chief since Tom Bishop's resignation in June. Sheriff's Maj. Randy Cook is filling in as interim chief.

Here again I will let the voters and taxpayers decide whether Tom Bishop's should have been placed in a non-existing position after the Mayor and Aldermen fired him.

Being asked to step-down from ones position is not a request for resignation. 

The Police Department has been riddled with problems, including an unsecured evidence vault, a lack of certified reserves and employee lawsuits brought against the city claiming harassment and retaliation.

I am positive that Sheriff George Payne Jr. is the right person and the right time in Long Beach, Mississippi history.

Kristen Treadwell can be reached at 896-2331 or at ktreadwell@sunherald.com.

STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY

MY OPINION

November 9, 2001