FORD VOTES NO
The City Council voted to pay the legal fees incurred by Police Chief Press after Mayor Kant filed an ethics complaint against him earlier this year concerning the use of a charity police fund account. Press was ultimately exonerated of the charges by the Alabama Ethics Commission last Summer.
The legal fees amount to just over $20,000.
PRESS'S COMMENTS
Press made these comments later:
PRESS'S COMMENTS
Press made these comments later:
Unfortunately, Mayor Kant decided to initiate this groundless investigation. To make matters worse, he removed the services of the city attorney who was already working with us on this case, and, therefore, I had no choice but to seek personal counsel. As a result, I sought the best and found it with Mr. Vincent Kilborn and Mr. James Atchison. As a reminder, the Alabama Ethics Committee viewed and unanimously closed this case with no finding of any misdoing whatsoever on my part. I am, therefore, grateful that four of the five Council members, who always try to do the right thing for this City, came forward in defense of my actions while I was fulfilling the duties of this office.
Chief Bill D. Press, PhD
Fairhope Police Department
Comments
The citizens of Fairhope get what they deserve if they re-elect those two crooks that have consistently used the tax payer’s money and their political power for personal gain.
The Mayor's no-bid contracts: Wolf Bay, Tony's Towing, Pittman Tractor Co., Hand Arendall, (need I go on...), attorney fees that are out of control (no contracts or oversight, $350/hr to Hand Arendall attorney’s [who contributed to his 2008 campaign, according to public records] - Come on!), and personal land deals for additional courthouse parking, purchased at almost double the appraised value of the property, in Mike Ford's pocket (Summer of 2008); how convenient for him, are just a few of their transgressions. The ones I’ve read about. They are not secrets, and I could go on and on.
Is everyone else out there asleep or something, because no one seems to be paying any attention to what is going on?
And while I’m at it, how about getting a Municipal Judge that isn't personal friends with the Good Ole Boys - hunting camp trips, golfing, etc... If you want a fair system - know the players - and don't stand for the crap that is being dished out. If someone has done something wrong and needs to be fired, they shouldn’t get away with it because the Judge is personal friends with someone or because he owes someone a favor. Yes, this means you Municipal Court Judge Haymes Snedeker! Stick with reality golf shows on TV if you can’t be ethical and honest in real life! Letting Officer Avera off because you're friends with Captain (at the time) Comalander and others – who do you think you’re kidding? Shame on you and the people who showed the poor judgment to appoint you!
Like him and his personality or not Chief Press is ethical and so is Asst. Chief Sanders. I guess that's why the Mayor wants them gone and has tried just about everything to make that happen. He can't make his friends/cronies traffic tickets & arrest reports go away anymore. Boo hoo! Press and Sanders should be allowed to do their jobs without hindrance from the Mayor.
Heaven forbid Chief Press and Asst. Chief Sanders hold Police Officers accountable for their actions, with a code of conduct and ethical standards; trying to make officers do their jobs correctly and expecting them not to lie during internal affairs investigations. All the "good ole boy" officers need to go (2/3 of the dept.), for them it's just a power trip anyway with a huge undeserved paycheck. Fire them! Then give pay raises to the officers who are ethical and doing all the work - they DESERVE it (that's why it's called a MERIT raise).
Which reminds me, could someone please make the Mayor explain why he compared a merit system to college tenure??? – does he even know what that means? If he is suggesting that you should EARN a pay increase, like a college professor has to earn his or her tenure, then yes I would agree – but in that case – shouldn’t he be for a Merit System instead of AGAINST it???
This isn't rocket science people. When are Fairhopian's going to finally say "ENOUGH"?
Elect a Mayor that will let the Chief of Police do his job; hiring, supervising, disciplining, and firing his employees as needed and by a fair process. What business does a Mayor, who is a gardener by trade, have supervising a Police Department, especially when he is one of the biggest crooks Fairhope has ever seen!!! This is common sense folks! Ugh!
They accused the Chief of what they are guilty of themselves - using donated and/or city funds incorrectly and/or illegally! And they have been doing it for years right under everyone's noses!
If the people of Fairhope re-elect those idiots - after all of the obvious scandals they have caused - they are idiots themselves!
Everyone should be on to them by now - Kant is mad at the Chief because he is ethical and won't fix tickets or make reports go away for his friends, among other things, and Ford is mad at Chief Press because his Meth/Crack addict son keeps getting into trouble and Chief Press won't look the other way like Comalander and Griffis used to.