Sunday, July 17, 2011
Albany Mayor clueless
Here is what Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa says:
Mr. Tim Smith,
Albany City Councilors and myself are policy makers and we do not manage
the city or staff.
I recently heard about the situation regarding
Officer Rose. The City Manager Wes Hare and Police Chief Ed Boyd
explained the situation to me. The situation was investigated from three
investigators who were from other jurisdictions. It was resolved over a year ago.
They found there was no violation of the law, since this was between two
people having a
relationship. The person having the relationship with the officer was not
a city employee.
The photographs were shared with a third party after the relationship
ended.
It did fall under a violation of employee policy. Officer
Rose was disciplined for not following his employment policy.
Mr. Smith, as you know any city, county, state can not control all
actions of every employee one hundred percent of the time. The same for
private businesses or corporations. Sometimes employees can make errors
and you probably have as well in your life. No one is perfect in this
world. But, I do know as my involvement with Albany's government for
fifteen years we have one of the most qualified and professional staff in
the state. I have high trust in their judgment and what decisions are
made are with full consideration of all issues.
Sharon Konopa
Mayor of Albany
So, you citizen's of Albany, writing letters to the mayor or city council is probably hopeless. They don't care and are unwilling to demand integrity from the Albany Police Department.
A couple of things. The pictures were sent to an 18 year old police cadet who graduated from high school in 2010. I would argue that she was an employee of the city as she was a volunteer. She performed work for the city for the experience she gained by performing the work.
Second, Konopa better take off her rose colored glasses and take a hard look at what is going on in the police department. Maybe when I publish the next story in a few days, her eyes will open a little.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If there is no attempt to control the out of control conduct of an employee a private company or business will suffer....financially! However, government, has dedicated revenue and does not have to worry about competition! Where are we going to shop when we aren't happy with the mayor,and the chief's handling of this situation. It is time we wake up and demand accountability of our elected officials and the police. This is the same attitude we see with OSU athletes when they are out of control. It is more about damage control than discipline!
ReplyDeleteA cadet who met Rose while on duty. He used his position for a relationship with the cadet. They would be Official Misconduct by a lot of investigators, but what do I know. :) He used his position and continues to use his position to meet women. This is violation of policy and state law.
ReplyDeleteThe City of Albany also listened to a City Manager, Police Chief and the City Attorney when Officer Mike Hudgins sued them in federal court. After a 20 plus day trial he was awarded $1.45 million dollars plus another $800,000 in attorneys' fees. Just saying though what do we know.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Albany Police Department needs to be investigated by the Oregon Department of Justice. Maybe this would shed light on their handling of things.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, a Sergeant choked a kid out who was restrained in leg irons and belly chain that the Sergeant ordered to be put on him. He committed several crimes and the city only suspended him for a few days. There was no outside review and he was allowed to bully the only witness to it.
This only came to light because Officer Hudgins worked to clear the kid's name. This matter is in Federal Court Records during Officer Hudgins Civil suit.
I was aware of the sergeant who assaulted the kid.
ReplyDeleteHudgins was ages ago and a whole different story that had to do with federal Labor laws.
ReplyDeleteI do not know where they are getting these teen age cops from that can do nothing but pretend. I understand Knoppas point she will defend them to a certain point, but after a while they Will do something about it. it is not like when I use to worked for Benton County SO and Linn Co SO...IF you had read the Standard Operating Procedure Manual (S.O.P.)and initialed each page after reading and you broke any part of that S.O.P you were history, and asked to either resign or which ever S.O.P. you broke was made public ....I knew of NO ONE that chose the public route they all resigned within 30 days. I really do not know what happened to all the Phyc testing at the departments, but at BCSO there is one that is still working that failed 3 times ...Tim will know I hope i will just say that they are still working there..... and a Sgt...
Going back to APD it is a shame that it has got down to this ....who do you trust now ????? only if I could tell all my stories. I wish.
Mayor,
ReplyDeleteThe city manager, city counsilors and you have the power to remove people from their positions. It is appparent, you will not. As this gets out to the public you folks may not be re-elected. Is there a police union? Has anyone made an attempt to speak with them? I would guess they have records to confirm or deny. What about the city and district attorneys?