L.B. police chief to step down

LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI

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

June 20, 2001

By CHRISTINE HARVEY
THE SUN HERALD

Thursday, October 23, 2003

After reading this article I was wondering if it has the smell of political protection.

Since the police chief is stepping down, like getting fired, why would he be placed somewhere else in the city.

This tells me they are going to make a job for him, or place him into a position which other personnel are qualified for.

There will be a question at the bottom for you too answer: Should the Long Beach Police Chief be Placed into another position in the city.

LONG BEACH - Police Chief Tom Bishop will step down as head of the Long Beach Police Department effective July 1, it was announced late Tuesday.

Does the words, stepping down, the same as getting fired?

The decision among the Board of Aldermen, Mayor Robert Bass and Bishop came in executive session, said City Attorney Jim Simpson.

Jim Simpson, is also a state legislature, should he be the cities attorney?

What does it mean, "executive session?"

The aldermen moved and voted unanimously that Bishop step down and that he be assigned to other duties within the city. It was not clear whether those duties would be within the Police Department.

This is where local political politics come into play.

One one hand the Board of Aldermen and Mayor voted to fire the police chief.

One the other hand the Board of Alderman and Mayor are saying, we also have to take care of the police chief.

This is a double standard, how many others which have been fired been placed into other positions?

The motion was based on an agreement reached earlier among the mayor, Bishop and the board.

I wonder what the agreement was, I am talking about the conversation, politics means taking care of your friends. 

I wonder how the personnel, which shown evidence, supporting six Police Department employees' accusations of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment feel about the police chief being given a position.

In addition, the Board of Aldermen authorized Bass to contact former Police Chief Mark Dunston to see whether he would come in as the interim police chief, Simpson said.

I find if comforting that our Alderman can authorize the Mayor to ask our former police chief if he wants too come back to work.

Bishop was aware of the decision, even though he was not at the meeting Tuesday night and knew there would be discussion about the possibility of the Harrison County Sheriff's Department taking over management of the Police Department, Simpson said.

If the city is looking for someone with experiecnce in law enforcement why don't they ask Joe Price, a Long Beach resident if he would like the position.

Bass said the city has no plans in place for the Sheriff's Department to take over management of the Police Department.

I would like to see the whole Mississippi Gulf Coast become a Metropolitan city, bringing all city government into one government.

Bass said he talked to Sheriff George Payne about the possibility of turning over Police Department operations to the county to see if it could save Long Beach money.

I have tried to get the city to fix my water so it does not smell like sewer, and they want to turn Long Beach over to the county.

I find there priorities out of touch with, "We the People," which pays the taxes.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has said evidence supports six Police Department employees' accusations of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment.

If this is true, the city does not need the police chief working for the city any longer.

So why would the Board of Alderman and Mayor ensure he stays employed by the city? 

The department also has been accused of using excessive force and indulging in political patronage.

"Excessive force and indulging in political patronage" would you say this, if true, is a firing offence?

This is what give the word (Politician) a bad name, and believe me, it is at its lowest as far as I am concerned.

Harrison County Supervisor Marlin Ladner, whose district includes Long Beach, said Tuesday that he didn't know about the discussion between Payne and Bass. He said the Board of Supervisors hasn't discussed the possibility of the county taking over Police Department operations, nor was he aware that it was being considered as an option until he read it in the newspaper.

I believe having the county run our police department would be a good idea, I also believe the Board of Alderman and Mayor should do away with "Civil Service" jobs.

Regardless, Ladner said the Long Beach should be able to manage its own Police Department. The county is already talking about voiding the agreement it has to provide police protection in D'Iberville, he said.

If Long Beach could manage it police department, the police chief would not have been fired.

"I don't see that as an option for the county to take that over," Ladner said. "I don't think a public entity should manage another public entity's police force or any department."

I would need an explanation on, "I don't think a public entity should manage another public entity's police force or any department."

PLEASE PLACE A CHECK IN ONE ONE OF THE BOXES AND CLICK ON SUBMIT.

Thank you

STEVEN A. McCALEB

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