Ya
know, when the email first came out about a meeting with Mayor Persons and DPD
troops I was really amazed at what I saw on Topix. In case you didn’t see the
message here it is so we can reference to it during this blog:
“The Mayor met with the Police
Department today and basically told Officers to piss off. He asked who live in
Douglasville and 3 Officers raised their hands. He stated there are not enough
of you living in the city to determine if I get re-elected... And then
proceeded to tell Officers he isn't here to make friends. He got visibly mad
when Officers asked him questions about the statistics he has about why
Officers are leaving and got even madder when they questioned the Cities stupid
purchases of certain properties! He stated the Police is the backbone of the
City, but acknowledged if the pay study comes back saying they are under paid
the City doesn't have the money to implement raises any time soon... Officers
began to walk out of the meeting.”
I contacted a few folks and ask
about it and discovered mixed signals. Most say Mayor Persons took some hard
questions and he made some very sobering statements to the folks. No one in the
meeting was happy. No one viewed the
meeting as being out of control.
I watched the video about 4
times. Mayor Persons came into the room and was prepared for the meeting as
best as he could be. Evidently Chris Womack had a box set p for the officers to
leave their questions to be answered at that meeting. Mayor Persons decided not
to answer those instead having Chris Womack and Bill Osborne to look over them
and deciding the course of action.
Knowing local and state
government I understand that lot that would have to be addressed through committees,
personnel, and the legal department. I can understand Mayor Persons stance on
this as police can come up with a lot of questions that do indeed take a lot of
research. The last thing you want to do in a meeting with mad police officer’s
is making a mistake because, take they will eat you alive.
The question or statement of that
the three officers could not re-elect him he was honest. However, he qualified his
answer by saying the reason was each and every employee out there had to do a
good job if they didn’t know elected official could get re-elected. I have
heard that one more than once in my career. He told the officers more than one
time how good of a job they were doing and if they didn’t he would be gone next
time.
After seeing what happened at the
meeting I believe a lot of feelings and emotions were at play by all of those
there. From City Management, Command Staff, and officers all were concerned and
have a right to be. Everyone in the room had an agenda. Some wanted the study
and receive increases immediately, one wanted to know if they were making too
much would they lose money, and health insurance coverage.
I believe that Mayor Persons was
honest and sincere to the officers were the ones making the city look at a new
pay plan. They recognize that it has to be done and is long overdue. The
officers have brought to the front the highest cost of running a business and
that is employees and benefits.
The plan we had was to be
upgraded every year to keep quality employees and older employees on board. Your
starting salary was the most important for the scale. Once hired on you knew
where you would be for the next several years until top out. Once at top out
you only got cost of living. That was an issue with some of the long timers
they didn’t understand that a police officer should be making 80,000 per year
for longevity – give me a break.
In any case been i have been
there done that at the state level and city level. It will take at the minimum
of a year to evaluate each employee’s job qualifications and then does the
salary study of other cities. It must be understood by all the entire city will
be evaluated as all salaries have to be updated.
You must hire an outside firm to
conduct the study. I understand the frustration there but, if you want it done
right this is the way it goes. The study cannot be instituted by the city for
several reasons but, territorial disputes, favoritism, and fairness are a few. If
you hang on it will be worth your trouble.
Wherein lays the problem. Are the
citizens standing behind you now are willing to up the taxes on their property
to finance salary increases for every employee? My guess is they will.
There was an officer who asked Mayor
Persons not being employee friendly. The mayor told him he liked to come up and
ride and hang out sometimes with the guys but, the mayor was as blunt as
Sheriff Lee was to a group of folks that walked out on him. He was not there to
be their friend when it came down to the job he was their boss. If they weren’t
happy they should leave.
I have heard that speech at every
job I have had in law enforcement and if I were still there would be hearing it
now. Mayor Persons handled bad news as best he could. However, there comes a
time you draw a line in the sand. Either you get with the program and try to be
a partner in fixing the problems or you make your decision.
A question came up about paying
for street lights and other frivolous items. These Pink Elephants have been
around for years losing money. Aint going away any time soon. You can start the
finger pointing to the Administration of then Mayor Thompson. During his time
the salaries were frozen and the city under took a large – no exorbitant land
purchasing and grant acquisitions that are pulling the city under.
While at DPD I obtained 3 police
officers on a COPS that they may or may not have had funds to continue their
salaries. If you don’t keep those promises you will not receive another grant. You
don’t want that relationship with the Department of Justice to erode. Besides
it has my name on it. Seriously there are obligations that you may not be aware
of that must be met.
I have heard stories from folks
about not being treated right and disciplinary issues. You had your chance to
talk and I know most of you wouldn’t because of the setting. I will bet you now
that suggestion box will be your chance to make those comments. But, you can’t
do this stuff without telling who you are. If that doesn’t work use the chain
at City hall Mayor Persons made it clear many times he wanted to get to the
root of the problems. Sounds to me like the door are open but, they are not
going to act on an unsigned complaint. Get with the program.
Instead of dissecting the rest of
the program it all comes down to this. In 37 years of public service I have
heard the same speech – at times a little more flavorful from every supervisor
Sheriff, Director, or Police Chief. As close as Joe Whisenant and I were
friends at the end of the day he was the boss and I was an employee. I had
worked for him at the Sheriff’s office in the 80’s and we had the same
understanding then. You all have gotten the attention of the community, your
command staff, city administration, and elected officials. I urge you to hang
in there.
