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Belleair considers policing options
By MARK DOTSON
Article published on Thursday, April 20, 2006 |
BELLEAIR – The Town Commission is considering whether or not it should keep its police force or have another law enforcement agency take over.
In a late-added agenda item, the commission heard citizen input in a meeting that lasted two hours Tuesday evening. Town Manager Steve Cottrell was the target for recent problems in the police department.
“Our problems remain the same as eight years ago, if not worse,” said Mayor George Mariani Jr., referring to recent internal investigations, lawsuits, and the forced resignation of the police chief. “Why didn’t our city manager tell us of the potential problems? In my opinion he has not managed the department. We only heard about (it) the day before articles appeared in the print media.”
Commissioner Karla Rettstatt agreed, saying that Cottrell gave them a “false sense of security.”
“You’re supposed to manage your people,” Rettstatt said. “You let us down.”
Mariani said he specifically asked Cottrell to talk to the Largo Police Department, Clearwater Police Department and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office when deciding which to use for temporary protection until a new police chief was hired.
He claimed Cottrell said he chose the Largo Police Department because they would not charge the city, implying that the other two departments would. Cottrell countered by saying he did not recall ever claiming the other departments, specifically the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, meant to charge the city for protection.
Mariani also cited the police department’s lack of inventory control for their equipment and problems with evidence storage as issues that needed improvement.
“The rank and file cops perform wonderfully,” Mariani said.
The mayor said that he wanted town staff to get information from the Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department to open discussions about having these departments serve as the city’s police force, and to hold further meetings for the public to comment.
The commission proposed at least two, possibly three, public hearings on the issue. At least one would likely be in the afternoon so that senior citizens who don’t like to go out at night could attend.
“This is all preliminary,” Mariani said.
He added that discussing the possibility of changing their police protection would at least point out solutions to the problems they have and benefit the citizens.
Sheriff Jim Coats spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I’m not here to lobby you tonight,” Coats said. “If we’re invited back to give a formal proposal, the citizens will learn what we have to offer.”
Coats also said he would hire all of the Belleair Police Department employees at equal if not higher salaries and increased benefits.
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Article published on Thursday, April 20, 2006
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