Jack Kuenzie reports this on Twitter:
Council debates alternatives as proposal for police management contract goes down in flames. http://plixi.com/p/47809808
The “alternative” apparently will be to go ahead and hire a new police chief — in other words, an individual who will have a vest interest in fighting any move to merge with the county force (NOT having a chief is what created the opportunity to do something smart and new) — and then appoint a commission to study the proposal the council just turned down.
I’d call that down in flames, all right — if that’s where they end up.
This is a terribly disappointing failure on the part of the new council — a failure to signal that it is willing to be bold in pursuing workable solutions for the city’s policing problems.
On a better note, the council DID approve the curfew, although the city attorney has concerns — concerns he doesn’t want to share with the public. So whether the curfew is enacted, and enacted effectively, remains to be seen.
And as I said before, the most promising action the council could have taken to show it was serious about solving the youth gang problem would have been to put Leon Lott in charge.
But Daniel Rickenmann, the swing vote, decided against that.
Here are Jack’s Tweets on the subject:
Cola city council splits on WHEN to discuss police mgmt. contract during today’s meeting. Gergel and Plaugh want to start now. Outvoted 5-2.about 4 hours ago via ÜberTwitterPassed Kevin Gray on the way to city council meeting. His protest of the police plan appeared to be pretty much a solo performance.about 3 hours ago via ÜberTwitter5 minute break before Columbia council begins debate on police management.about 2 hours ago via ÜberTwitterKevin Gray’s protest outside city hall has picked up support. At least a half dozen now objecting to sheriff oversight of CPD.about 2 hours ago via ÜberTwitterCouncil members outlining views on CPD oversight. Mayor: get this off table today.about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitterTamieka Devine now speaking. She once led effort to blend county and city cops, then switched sides. Now wants to start chief search.about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitterRickenmann: Concerned about CPD leadership, inefficiency. But wants to hire chief, work on unified service. Could mean contract plan fails.about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitterRickenmann is swing vote.about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitterGergel motion for contract.about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitterSam Davis says CPD officers “humiliated”—by contract proposal.41 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterGergel’s motion provides contract for sheriff up to end of his term at $8K a year.35 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterThis contract plan appears likely to fail, 4-3.32 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterRickenmann wants to start chief search, study unified service.30 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterPlaugh proposes hiring “outside interim chief.”26 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterCouncil debates alternatives as proposal for police management contract goes down in flames. http://plixi.com/p/4780980818 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterMotion now being formed to direct city manager to begin chief search, assemble commission to study unified service.14 minutes ago via ÜberTwitterPretty good chance Columbia won’t have permanent police chief until next spring or later.1 minute ago via ÜberTwitter
The State’s Adam Beam reports that the last proposal DID pass. Here are his Tweets:
Big vote today at City Hall on the sheriff contract. One person showed up for the protest rally.
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
At last check, council had a 4-3 majority to hire the sheriff.
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
But Mayor Benjamin’s compromise proposal (http://j.mp/a3MrEp) has thrown a wrench in things
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Two of the four, Daniel Rickenmann and Leona Plaugh, said this morning they have concerns about the mayor’s proposal
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Benjamin said before the meeting that a consensus was forming around parts of his plan. Declined to say what parts.
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Not a big crowd on hand today. Most folks I’ve talked to said they believe council has already made up their mind, so why bother
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
But council did hold six public hearings on the issue, so you can’t say council didn’t listen
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Now council is arguing about the order of the agenda items
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Belinda Gergel just tried to move the law enforcement vote from No. 13 to No. 3
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Mayor Benjamin made her submit it as a motion to be voted on. Failed 5-2. It’s getting tense already.
about 4 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Open container violations in Columbia now come with $500 fine or 30 days in jail http://j.mp/bNOyQ0
about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Council discussing curfew ordinance, but wants to talk about it in a closed meeting
about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
City approves curfew, but questions remain http://j.mp/bbZMtW
about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Showtime
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Mayor Benjamin giving opening remarks
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Reply Retweet
Benjamin: “I don’t believe there is a racial division.”
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Benjamin: “This is the kind of issue that makes no one popular.”
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
Daniel Rickenmann says be wants to “hire somebody.” That means votes are not there for a contract with the sheriff.
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone
Someone just yelled out “Thank you Jesus” after Councilman Davis spoke against the sheriff contract
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone
Right now vote is 4-3 against the contract. No vote yet.
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone
Mayor Benjamin and Councilwoman Leona Plaugh having a sidebar. Lots of these are happening. http://twitpic.com/2t3xap
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone
Gergel wants sheriff now. Benjamin wants the sheriff now, chief in a year. Rickenmann wants a chief now but w/ a study of unified service
35 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Plaugh is offering “a substitute motion to the substitute motion.”
34 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
This is starting to look like Inception.
33 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Sheriff contract is dead, largely because of Daniel Rickenmann.
22 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
New motion: Hire a chief, and appoint a commission to study possibility of a unified force.
21 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
It appears that motion will pass.
21 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Whew
21 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Gergel will vote against the motion. Said commission would take responsibility away from council.
17 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Motion passes 6-1. Gergel voted no.
3 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
And now the mass exodus from City Hall. Council still meeting though.
3 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Mayor says city should have police chief by end of the year, but noted it is the city manager’s decision.
6 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
So who will be accountable for effectively enforcing this new curfew? I can’t tell, but it looks like no one to me.
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I was there. Council also passed first reading (of two) on the tightened open container law (Rickenmann was concerned about nonalcoholic beer, but voted for ordinance, Benjamin was concerned about the max penalty of 30 days, voted against.)
I rode the elevator up with Kuenzie, and there were already three others standing with Kevin Gray. There were a good dozen people outside City Hall at 11:40 or so, just before the discussion of the sheriff began. I encouraged them to go inside and be heard. They were convinced it was a lock against them. I’m glad they went in and were heard.
I was concerned about the temporary contract–all we need is another 6 months of studying (“This calls for immediate discussion!”–John Cleese in Life of Brian) and a lame duck caretaker–let’s get on with a permanent solution.
I have gotten excellent service from CPD in my neighborhood. Other neighborhoods have not. Let’s hope we can be One Columbia Police Department!
Kathryn, I bow to your superior immediate knowledge since you were there, but what just happened is the opposite of “let’s get on with a permanent solution.” Unless, to you, never having a merger is the permanent solution.
I would say it’s permanent, but no solution.
Because this set the status quo in stone. You go ahead and hire a chief, and you miss the opportunity. You refer this to a commission for study, and you bury it for good.
I think with a divided Columbia City Council, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, should turn down management if the vote is not unanimous. Otherwise, Leon would be dealing with a dysfunctional city council that wants to run the police department their own individual ways instead of the city manager’s way.
I spoke with Sam Davis, who opposed the merger, and Wiley Cooper, who resides near Columbia College, who supported it–and I respect both men immensely. Wiley told me about the shoddy police service he has received over the years–echoing Durham Carter, President of MLK Park Neighborhood, who just calls Leon for all his policing needs.
Sam made a very convincing point to me that the Capital City needs a capital police department, and just because egos have gotten in the way of things in the past is no reason for them to do so going forward. I was reminded of how President Sorenson laid down the law to his peeps over the Inn controversy, saying “make it work” with the city and neighborhood and ushered in a golden age of cooperation in one act. Instead of spending hours and hours and hours fighting out matters, we all cooperate and things run so much more smoothly. It starts at the top.
There are unfortunate racial or perceived racial overtones to the whole issue–whites support Lott, and blacks, on the whole-excepting Carter and Benjamin, do not. I hate to see this.
I was also moved by the Police Officers Association–or whatever they are called–who opposed the merger. I respect CPD officers and their opinions,greatly.
I have been impressed with CPD on the whole over my twelve years on the front lines. Not everyone, nor every police chief (Dean Crisp was to my cup of tea), but on the whole. I also am a huge fan of Sheriff Lott and his people.
“and just because egos have gotten in the way of things in the past is no reason for them to do so going forward.”
Is it likely that the people with the big egos are going to change? I’d bet on the egos winning out.
I’m not sure whether the consolidation was a good idea or not, for both City and County – unless they are willing to go whole hog and merge the two from top to bottom. Nor am I sure that the “feelings” of the unionized CPD officers or the “need” for a Capitol City police force are of such high importance. I would expect that either way the citizen’s would be policed by a competent, professional force.
However, I am sure that, once again, we just witnessed the City Council cut of its nose to spite its face. I’m sure I don’t get what really happened, but I’m bemused by the outward impression the day’s meeting has left.
I also do not get the racial divide on this issue. Is there a sensible explanation of the different viewpoints? Can these viewpoints somehow be bridged? Or is this just smoke to hide the petty despiration of those who fear change (which has appeared to be equally a black and a white thing in Columbia politics)?
The racial divide — well, that’s a topic for a separate post. Maybe tomorrow, since I have to run to an event right now.
Let’s just say I was somewhat relieved to see the whitest white boy at Bypass High provide the deciding vote so that it wasn’t entirely along racial lines (except for the mayor, who started the ball rolling, of course).
All of this — the concern about gangs in Five Points, whether there’s a new chief (a successor to Charles Austin, who for the longest time followed the pattern of other local black leaders and denied there was a gang problem — the standard line you would hear was that “gang” talk was coming from white folks who saw a gang wherever two young black men stood together) or whether Leon Lott (who at the same time Chief Austin was denying their existence was aggressively going after the gangs that were gaining a serious foothold in the city) will run the show.
Oops — looks like I just stated the problem, rather than waiting for a post tomorrow.
Anyway, once we solve this problem, we’ll move to the racial divide over Richland School District 1, which is if anything more entrenched and profound…
I’m not saying the “feelings” of CPD officers matter, but they do actually have first hand knowledge and some expertise in the matter.
I also apologize for inexpertly redacting Sam Davis’s arguments. Sam is a good guy who cares about his district, unlike the former holder of the other disadvantaged district’s seat. I listen to what he says.