ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997 TAG: 9704170037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Members of Pulaski Town Council decided that if they could not discuss complaints about police in private, they would not discuss them at all.
Pulaski officials have declined to consider a petition asking for an investigation into the town Police Department, calling it too general.
Copies of the petition were sent to Pulaski Town Council members by Carl Allison, who has been collecting signatures since late last year and claims to have about 300 of them.
The petition claims that its signers "believe that Pulaski Police Officers often violate the constitutional rights of citizens, use excessive and illegal force and exhibit a lack of respect for the citizens they serve." Police Chief Herb Cooley and other town officials have denied this.
Allison, a contractor, made no formal presentation of the petition to council at its meeting Tuesday night. Copies had been left in the mailboxes of council members.
The matter came up when council wanted to discuss the matter in closed session, and Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger advised that it was not something that could be discussed behind closed doors.
Terwilliger said the state Freedom of Information Act would allow a closed-door session to discuss specific allegations or complaints against police officials, possible liability, or what any internal investigation might have shown. But a general call for an investigation into the department would not be covered by the act, he said.
"The only petition that I've seen is a very general petition," Terwilliger said.
"Well, I think we should investigate and clear it up once and for all," said Councilwoman Polly Mitchell.
Mayor John Johnston said council had nothing specific to investigate. "I don't know how to address a generalized thing like that," he said.
Mitchell said she has heard that signers wanted to know if a background investigation had been conducted on a department employee before he was hired, "and then they say policemen are walking into homes" without authorization, she said.
"Who's they?" several council members demanded.
Johnston told Mitchell that, when he hears such rumors, "I ask the police chief or I ask the town manager. Have you tried that?"
Mitchell said she had not made those inquiries. Town Manager Tom Combiths said a background check was made on the employee in question, and that such checks are part of the town's hiring process.
Cooley said Wednesday he, too, did not think there was any substance to the petition.
"I'm not concerned about any investigation of me or the department," he said. "We have nothing to hide."
Cooley said if the department wanted to hide its activities from the public, it would not have as many community-oriented programs as it does nor would it have started its citizen ride-along program as it did recently. Cooley said any "truly concerned" citizen, without a criminal record, is welcome to ride with an officer and see first-hand the types of calls police address.
Council decided to delete the petition from matters to be considered in its closed session. After the closed session, however, Johnston said he would write Allison a letter explaining council's position and acknowledging the petition. Councilman Charles Stewart approved the idea, saying the concerns of that many petitioners should be addressed.
The letter will be reviewed by council before being mailed, so it will probably be several weeks before it goes out.
Allison has acknowledged that his two grown sons have had a number of run-ins with local police, but he said that was not why he started his petition drive last year. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
In other matters, Councilman Jim Neblett said local merchants will sell numbered ducks for $1 each for the annual rubber duck race on Peak Creek during the town's Depot Days Festival June 28-29. The merchants award prizes to those whose ducks cross the finish line first.
Vice Mayor Bettye Steger said grants are being sought for an addition to the town's central gym. She said the youth program has grown to the point where more space is needed.
Steger said Carl Paschal was welcomed at last week's meeting of the Community Crime Awareness Group as the town's new crime prevention officer.
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