Newspaper Page Text
June 29, 2022
Page 7A
^Reporter
POLICE
Continued from Front
received repeated complaints
about the department from local
gadfly Scott Bogulski. Hall said she
had been forwarding complaints
— about everything from lack of
equipment to unkept promises of
promotions — from Bogulski to
the chief. But as they continued
she decided to approach the chief
about doing a more thorough
review.
“I wish you would,” agreed Har
ris, said Hall.
Hall said she met with all current
officers over a 2-3-week period
in April. She assured officers that
complaints would be anonymous
so they could speak freely. Hall
made a list of the complaints and
make recommendations to Chief
Harris for improvement.
One of her first action items was
to re-issue 2020 Chevy Tahoes
that were being driven by the chief
and his second in command, Maj.
Alexander Daniels. Hall said those
newer vehicles should be driven by
patrol officers and investigators, not
command staff, and Harris readily
agreed. Hall noted that one patrol
officer was driving a 2010 vehicle.
Another complaint was that the
chief wore his Battle Dress Uniform
(BDU) pants, a Polo-style shirt and
a baseball hat every day, while of
ficers had to wear uniforms. Harris
agreed to wear either his uniform
or a tie every day, said Hall.
“Daily BDU is not allowed as it
is too casual for daily wear’’ Hall
wrote to Harris. “Why not allow of
ficers to wear caps, especially when
you wear a ball cap every day’’
Hall also asked officers if they
were chief for a day, what would
they do and what would they no
longer do. Those answers and
complaints, which led to Hall rec
ommendations, included:
• Paper forms used to request
new equipment seem to get lost a
lot. Hall recommended an elec
tronic process to order supplies.
• Universal items such as belt
clips, radio mic clips, gloves, masks,
staples, staplers, officer supplies and
flashlights are not readily available.
Hall told Harris to start a supply
closet.
• Officers don’t have personalized
business cards to give to citizens.
Hall said Harris had ordered them
from GPSTC but there was a delay.
She said that issue has now been
resolved and officers have personal
business cards.
• Several officers complained they
didn’t have small notebooks to use.
Hall said they have bought new
ones for everyone.
• Several officers said that Chief
Harris and Major Daniels, both of
whom are already eligible for foil
retirement, may retire at the same
time and use that as an excuse not
to address an issue. Harris said that
is not true, that he never uses that
as an excuse not to do something,
said Hall. Hall also said they must
give her more than 30 days notice
before they do retire because she
wants to have people in place when
that happens.
• Some officers complained that
they were promised a promotion
but it never happened. Harris
said that’s not true. Officers also
complained the police department
doesn’t have an organization chart,
and Hall recommended one.
• Some officers complained that
the department doesn’t keep main
tenance logs on patrol cars, and
said some patrol cars have radar
detectors even though the officer is
not certified to use it.
• Some officers complained about
the age of the department’s patrol
fleet. Hall suggested looking into
a lease program to rotate in new
vehicles.
• On Hall’s recommendation, the
department has added flashlights
to its service revolvers.
• Some complained about the
city’s ban on facial hair and tattoos
for officers. Hall said with the
department as short-staffed as it’s
been in a long time, they’re going
to ask city council to drop those
requirements.
• One officer complained that
patrol cars were issued according
to the number of tickets officers
wrote. Harris said that’s not true,
said Hall.
• Several officers complained that
the department doesn’t do enough
to build a team, noting there’s few
times where the officers are all
together or enjoy a meal with one
another. “One said (former chief
Keith) Corley would interact with
and have cookouts for the officers,”
said Hall. “Not allowing officers to
get to know each other is hurting
the department.”
Hall told Harris to rescind that
policy against officers eating lunch
in the police station, although Har
ris insisted it wasn’t a policy. Hall
also said one officer said Harris
forbade them from talking to her
or the mayor. Harris said that too is
untrue, said Hall.
• Some officers complained they
weren’t allowed to be in the new
City Hall. Again Harris said he
doesn’t know where that rumor
started, but it’s not true. Hall
recommended that all officers be
made familiar with the layout of the
new City Hall.
Hall said she gave her recom
mendations to Harris in late April
or early May. Asked if after her
review, she thinks the city police
department is strong, Hall said yes.
“It’s in good shape and we have a
lot of good officers,” said Hall, add
ing “it is a hard time to be a police
officer’’
ROE
Continued from Front
turned the 1972 Roe decision on Friday by
a 5-4 vote. Over 60 million unborn babies
had been aborted since the Roe decision
barred states from putting limits on abor
tion. With Roe overturned, state legislatures
now have the right to regulate abortion as
they see fit. Georgia has already passed a
fetal heartbeat bill which would bar abor
tions once a heartbeat is detected. However
it is currently on hold pending federal court
review.
With some protests across the country,
four Monroe County deputies stood guard
at Sunday’s celebration on the square. But
no threats were reported.
Futch said she’s been excited to see more
states restricting abortions every day.
“It has to help save lives,” said Futch.
Futch, who helped found the Pregnancy
Center in Forsyth in 1989, said she used to
joke that she hoped they would go out of
business one day. But she said she’s realized
that will never happen.
“I don’t think we will ever go out of busi
ness,” said Futch. She said even if abortion
stopped in Georgia, people still make mis
takes and need help.
Futch said they also plan to continue the
Choosing the Best program in Monroe
County schools to help young people make
good decisions about sex and relationships.
“We want to help young people to see
that sex is a beautiful thing, it is just often
misused,” said Futch. “People use sex in
the wrong way at the wrong time with
the wrong people. Therefore we want to
continue to give that message that God has
a beautiful plan for sex and that’s the way it
ought to be. We want to help young people
see it like that. That it’s more than an act of
momentary pleasure.”
And Futch said the Pregnancy Center is
still working toward raising money to add
a sonogram so that young mothers can see
their unborn babies.
Futch has participated in pro life rallies in
Atlanta and Washington for decades, and
said it’s gratifying to see that those events
will now be more celebrations.
“When I come to the end of the road,
I just hope I can say I was faithful,” said
Futch.
Among the pastors praying at Sunday’s
celebration were the Rev. David Martin of
Dayspring Presbyterian, the Rev. Jimmy
Corbitt of Bethany Baptist and the Revs.
Brian Moore and Nathan Jackson of New
Providence Baptist.
*
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