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Council discusses PD firing
Published Saturday, November 21, 2009
A standing-room-only crowd at the Demopolis City Council meeting on Thursday came in support of terminated police officer Tommy Johnson, but the people on hand made no reaction when they heard that his reinstatement was not going to happen.
At the beginning of the meeting, District 2 representative Mitchell Congress proposed an addition to the agenda that would allow Tameka Alvis to present a petition to the council to reinstate Johnson. Congress’s motion to do so was voted down 3-3, with mayor Mike Grayson, Jack Cooley and Bill Meador voting against the motion and Congress, Thomas Moore and Melvin Yelverton voting for it.
Near the end of the meeting, at a time set for council members to discuss topics not on the agenda, Congress asked why there was not going to be a hearing regarding Johnson, and Grayson responded that there needed to be an appeal to the personnel committee.
Congress responded that city policy states that DPD chief Tommie Reese could not terminate Johnson without permission from the personnel committee, which Congress said was not granted.
“It is my suggestion that this was not done procedurally and properly, and that Tommy Johnson be reinstated as sergeant with back pay until the personnel committee gives Chief Reese permission to take an action,” Congress said. “I think that action should have to follow our grievance policy procedure and go down the line with a reprimand and follow our procedure for the City of Demopolis. If the council wishes to go into executive session to discuss that, I certainly make a motion to go into executive session.”
The council went into executive session for about 35 minutes. When it came out and resumed regular session, Congress made a motion to reinstate Johnson, but that motion failed for the lack of a second.
City attorney Richard S. Manley told the audience that the action taken against Johnson followed an investigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.
“When the issue came up that is involving Officer Johnson and the chief of police found out about what he had heard, he requested the Alabama Bureau of Investigation in Montgomery, Ala., to make an investigation,” Manley said, holding a manila package in his hand. “Based on that investigation — and this is a copy of it; it’s been delivered to me; it’s about 40 pages and four CDs — he made the decision to suspend him.
“This is now going to be given to the council for them to look at, and given to counsel for Mr. Johnson. I just wanted to say that so you understand that this wasn’t something that was done by the committee or the council. This wasn’t done by chief of police Reese. He acted on this document.”
Manley added that, to his knowledge, the ABI investigation of Johnson had been completed.
After the meeting, Grayson said the city’s policy states that, to terminate an employee, a department head will discuss the charges with the personnel committee. The committee then votes for or against termination of the employee in question. That employee has the right to file a grievance and appeal.
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Comments
Posted by mouthpiece (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not comment on why he was fired besidesletting us know that he was fired, We know that tell us why !!! And this election please people get Congress, Moore and Yelverton out of office, They are only messing up this town and holding it back !!
Posted by DarrylDavis (anonymous) on November 23, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To be a veteran on the police force and have to be investigated by the ABI , then all that can be assumed( no one should assume anything) but it appears that assumption is all that anyone is left with as per this article. He is a public servant , the people have the right to know. Is the man suspended , fired, or in big trouble with the police himself????
Posted by mouthpiece (anonymous) on November 23, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your going to hit a nerve with that kind of talk, but it's really funny how they ( the city ) think we shouldn't know why he was fired, my be they are ashamed or is it a power trip ? We know something and we aren't telling. It's bout time to clean house down town !
Posted by voiceofreason1 (anonymous) on November 23, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the article, Darryl, he's still fired.
Sounds like whatever they found in the investigation is what got him that way.
Shame that Grayson won't come out and say why. If they feel like they had a good reason, then he should be able to say so.
Or maybe they don't think they have a good reason.
Posted by gunnut (anonymous) on November 23, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe the fools trying to get that guy back on the force. Then again, I should not be surprised. Lordy, Lordy.
Posted by pats57 (anonymous) on November 24, 2009 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Citizens of Demopolis,
America is a very forgiving nation whereas throughout our history, we as a people, have forgiven many of those who walked the wrong side of society. Tommy is my friend, and has been for all my life. Don't rush to judge, especially if you have not walked in his shoes. Personally, if you have never been involved in public service, i.e, police, teaching, the military, I don't consider your views relevant nor worthy of print. I have no clue what offence Tommy is alleged to have committed, nor do I care. If you dare, look through the history of the criminals that have been elected to public office by the great minds that call themselves citizens of Demopolis, and then decide what you think is fair or not. I am glad I left Demopolis and never looked back. As I sit here in Afghanistan wasting away in another war, I can only think of something a friend once told me, "you get what you put in, and people get what they deserve," have a great day!
Posted by mouthpiece (anonymous) on November 24, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all I'd like to say thank you pats57 for your service to my country and our freedom, but what you fail to see here or what you don't see is anyone going against Tommy, we are going against the Police Dept. and City because they won't release why they fired Tommy or did they put there cart before the horse, YES, so sir stay safe and come home soon !
Posted by kathlene (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 5:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Pats57
First of all veiws are relevent and worthy of print! We are (more than likely) citizens of Demopolis! This is our city and we have the right to voice or oppinion even if we are mopping floors at McDonalds! They made it public knowledge that the were suspending Tommy, they should make it public knowledge as to why. I liked Tommy also, wasn't a friend, but I liked him. Personally, I would like to know what he did because, I would rather know the truth then believe a lie. The things that people are saying about him are pretty bad. Just because he is a police officer doesn't mean he should be able to do what he wants and get away with it. As a matter of fact, he should be held to a higher standard because he took a oath. If it is true that you get out what you put in, the same is true for "your friend" Tommy. If you are happy to be out of Demopolis I am happy for you. On another note, may God Bless and Keep you safe.
Posted by gunnut (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone in civil service or the military who does not care about what this particular peace officer is alleged to have done is not worthy of the honor of wearing a uniform. And those standards set forth by pats57 for forum posters should instead be applied to persons running for president...
Posted by voiceofreason1 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think anybody here's asking he be rehired.
My problem is that Grayson got elected on an "open government" platform and they fire this guy in an executive session and haven't told anybody why he was fired.
I've heard the rumor and if it's true he's getting less than he deserves.
If you want to run an open government, say "this is what we turned over to ABI. This is what they found. We used that information in our decision making process and this is why he was terminated."
I'm sure there's going to be a lawsuit and he doesn't want to say anything but if they did everything right (which it doesn't sound like they did) there's no reason not to comment about it.
Grayson got elected because he was running against turd of a candidate but in my opinion, he hasn't done much since winning the election.
Oh, yeah. I forgot. We got a sidewalk to nowhere next to the river. Yay!
Posted by pats57 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, it seems my comments have sparked some thought among the readers of this rag. That is exactly what I intended. Yes, peace officers are, and will always be held to a much higher standard than most Americans. I concur that the city government must release the details of the incident(s) involving Tommy. Those of us in public service waive our right to privacy when we take the oath to serve. Plus, we volunteered for our service, no one is forced into public service as a career. I still respect Tommy, regardless of any alleged transgressions. Serving the city of Demopolis for 25 years or so, Tommy has certainly done something right over the years. I simply ask, that readers think back through the past 50 years alone, how many US elected officials have been caught in some moral, ethical, or legal firestorm, and did not receive any punishment less being embarrassed and losing a little pride. In the past, I maintained a rather harsh stance on anyone caught currying favor in the dark side of life. As life continues to pass by, and I see what happens at the most senior levels of our government, I must admit, I view incidents like this with much caution. I firmly believe in innocent until proven guilty, and then, by modern ethcial standards established by our elected officials, if found guilty, we tend to absolve offenders of most illicit behavior. The exception of course, is any kind of sex offenders, especially child sexual abuse.
I do thank you all for the feedback, I do love my hometown, and miss all my friends, especially my Dad. I hope to continue these comments if our network stays online here in Pol-E-Charki, Afghanistan. Have a great Thanksgiving!
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