Editorial...General Custer Guilty of Bad Timing
The decision by City Manager Bill Galletly to fire Grove Police Chief Mark Wall is the topic of discussion all over town. The firing raises all kinds of issues, including the timing of the firing.
General Custer was guilty of bad timing when he got caught by a large band of Indians; the German invasion of Russia in the middle of winter wasn't exactly smart; and Napoleon got his at Waterloo.
Galletly fired the police chief the day after the funeral for one of his officers, a couple of weeks prior to the largest invasion of tourists in Grove history for the Bassmasters Top 100 Sooner Run fishing tournament, the American Music Festival a few days later and of course the Memorial Day weekend which causes the Grand Lake area to become the state's third largest city. Police experience at handling these events is not to be sneezed at.
Galletly said the action "was warranted or it would not have occurred" and that is basically all he is saying. But the attorneys will have a lot more to say about it... you know, those guys who get paid big bucks to ferret out the small type in the law. Wall's attorney says there is something called the Police Pension and Retirement System of Oklahoma and members may not be discharged except for "cause." A review board is supposed to be set up to hear the matter, but Grove has none. The city's personnel manual conflicts with it, the attorney says, with the state pension rules prevailing.
It is practically impossible to fire government employees, state, local or Federal, thanks to all of the protections written by lawmakers. Last week a US Congressman got caught with $90,000 in his freezer from an FBI sting and then said "There are two sides to every story." Huh?
It is difficult to run any organization when you have people on the payroll that you feel are not part of the team. It didn't help Mark Wall's public perception when at a Grove City Council meeting he sat between Earl Barnes and Charles Rowe, both of whom would like to see Galletly fired.
On the other hand, perhaps Galletly should have just sucked it up and waited until a better time, although it can be argued there is no good time for a firing of a long-time city employee. One needs to enter battles one can win, put aside those that can't be won, and forget about the rest.
What causes people to make decisions which bring on so much controversy? We suggest you read an article from the Wharton School of Economics at http://www.whartonsp.com/articles/article.asp?p=390814&rl=1. The issue is a lot more complicated that one would ever think. We won't even attempt to excerpt from it but it is certainly worth a read.
In the meantime, Wall has a nice job offer from the District Attorney's office while he is on paid administrative leave; our new Chief of Police Ivan Divitt, Jr. is at work; the attorneys are searching their law books and life goes on in Grove, Ok., controversy and all.
Does the city budget have funds for two police chiefs?
How much are the legal expenses going to be to see this through?
If it were up to us, we would call a Review Board and hash out the issues that caused the firing and clear the air rather than get involved in a long, expensive legal battle. Our sense is that the taxpayers of Grove are really getting tired of all the fuss.
General Custer was guilty of bad timing when he got caught by a large band of Indians; the German invasion of Russia in the middle of winter wasn't exactly smart; and Napoleon got his at Waterloo.
Galletly fired the police chief the day after the funeral for one of his officers, a couple of weeks prior to the largest invasion of tourists in Grove history for the Bassmasters Top 100 Sooner Run fishing tournament, the American Music Festival a few days later and of course the Memorial Day weekend which causes the Grand Lake area to become the state's third largest city. Police experience at handling these events is not to be sneezed at.
Galletly said the action "was warranted or it would not have occurred" and that is basically all he is saying. But the attorneys will have a lot more to say about it... you know, those guys who get paid big bucks to ferret out the small type in the law. Wall's attorney says there is something called the Police Pension and Retirement System of Oklahoma and members may not be discharged except for "cause." A review board is supposed to be set up to hear the matter, but Grove has none. The city's personnel manual conflicts with it, the attorney says, with the state pension rules prevailing.
It is practically impossible to fire government employees, state, local or Federal, thanks to all of the protections written by lawmakers. Last week a US Congressman got caught with $90,000 in his freezer from an FBI sting and then said "There are two sides to every story." Huh?
It is difficult to run any organization when you have people on the payroll that you feel are not part of the team. It didn't help Mark Wall's public perception when at a Grove City Council meeting he sat between Earl Barnes and Charles Rowe, both of whom would like to see Galletly fired.
On the other hand, perhaps Galletly should have just sucked it up and waited until a better time, although it can be argued there is no good time for a firing of a long-time city employee. One needs to enter battles one can win, put aside those that can't be won, and forget about the rest.
What causes people to make decisions which bring on so much controversy? We suggest you read an article from the Wharton School of Economics at http://www.whartonsp.com/articles/article.asp?p=390814&rl=1. The issue is a lot more complicated that one would ever think. We won't even attempt to excerpt from it but it is certainly worth a read.
In the meantime, Wall has a nice job offer from the District Attorney's office while he is on paid administrative leave; our new Chief of Police Ivan Divitt, Jr. is at work; the attorneys are searching their law books and life goes on in Grove, Ok., controversy and all.
Does the city budget have funds for two police chiefs?
How much are the legal expenses going to be to see this through?
If it were up to us, we would call a Review Board and hash out the issues that caused the firing and clear the air rather than get involved in a long, expensive legal battle. Our sense is that the taxpayers of Grove are really getting tired of all the fuss.
posted by Editor | 1:30 AM
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