Wynn Is staying?

[noway]

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050707/NEWS01/507070305/1002

Reading this story it looks like the citizens voted 61% for Dupree so Dupree is going with Wynn as Police Chief! Kim Bradley said "had some very, very good discussions with the chief."

This department is one of only two in the state that's accredited," DuPree said. "Crime was down 17 percent last year. Public safety is always a concern, but this department is doing a good job under the leadership of its chief.":smt102

[2002usmgrad]

If Wynn is doing such a good job, why is he having such a hard time hiring people. I know the officers have left for various reasons, but it always seems like the HPD has the hardest time obtaining new officers. How can we feel safe in a city where the majority of the police force are or are going to be fairly new recruits. Does anyone know the exact number of HPD officers that are away in Irag? And how much of an impact is this having on the force.

[lamarrebel]

Dupree may have gotten 61 percent of the vote citywide, but he failed to carry three out of the five city wards. Betsy carried her ward 1 ( narrowly), ward 3, and ward 4. If Dupree thinks that this election was just a referendum on Chief Wynn, then shouldn't Red, Carter and Kim vote with their consituency and fire him?

while on the subject, I can't help but do an encore reprint of some of my own poetry:


"Chief Wynn is in fear, because he knows he's in deep
He just wishes the Indpendent would put this story to sleep

His quality officers are leaving, to Lamar County and Petal they go
While the population of Hattiesburg, no longer seems to grow

Plain and simple it is a matter of public trust
with many of us the tenure of Chief Wynn has bene nothing but a bust

So Mayor do the City a favor and get rid of Wynn
because otherwise an exodus out of the City will begin, yet again."

Glory, Glory

[XC9]

Kim Bradley stated that he had a very interesting discussion with Mr Wynn. I feel to see both sides fairly he should contact many of the former officers who quit under this administration and get their views on this matter. This would be fair to everyone involved. He may need to talk to some that retired early and find out if they retired happily or because they felt forced to leave. I believe this would settle any questions Mr. Bradley should have on this subject. This is a critical issue in this city and all council members need to get their heads up on this. Hopefully they will vote as the people who elected them expect them to.

[aaron]

I wouldn't say crime is down because of Wynn, it's because of the officers we have on duty. Wynn manages these officers, a person that is supposed to motivate them to risk their lives for you and me. Apparently, he's doing a poor job of that. I would judge his job performance based on what his employees think.

[reality]

Being an accredited department simply means you are meeting all of the standards concerning policies and procedures. It says nothing for the police work nor the crime in the city.

The Mayor STILL says crime is down, and that has been proven to be a lie. Anyone who cares to know the goings on in Hattiesburg would know that is not true.

[XC9]

Mr. Wynns statistics are based on the affadavits each officer swears in. It is quite believable considering arrest are not being made as they were during previous administrations. Previously, if officers were called out on trespassers who were found to have open containers in their hands and on private property they were arrested. This city has changed. Now they let you call for a ride away and let you leave intoxicated. What a wonderful example to set when children are present. Maybe this is why McAlpin and Ezell were demoted (transitioned) from the training position. Training officers to do the right thing would mean paperwork would be coming in, which means the statistics would change.

[Omerto]

Does anyone know how many officers are actually on duty after midnight, compared to four years ago?

Does anyone know the cumulative years of experience we've lost in the last four years?


(Not taking anything away from the men and women who are now serving and protecting, but it's one thing to say we have the same number of officers as x years ago, and another to know the cumulative years of experience and training we have in HPD now in comparison to our previous administrations' forces).

[candid]

Does anyone know how many officers are actually on duty after midnight, compared to four years ago?

Does anyone know the cumulative years of experience we've lost in the last four years?


(Not taking anything away from the men and women who are now serving and protecting, but it's one thing to say we have the same number of officers as x years ago, and another to know the cumulative years of experience and training we have in HPD now in comparison to our previous administrations' forces).


Not enough! But only enought that Fairley will allow!

[2002usmgrad]

From the story - Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said Wednesday he plans to keep David Wynn as police chief - but hasn't decided when the city council will vote on that and other appointments.

Quick question, is it possible for DuPree to not bring his appointments to the council? Is there a time table on this thing or can the mayor put it off for a year or so? Anyone know.

[Tully Mars]

Here are a couple of items from the MS Code that are applicable to your question:

§ 21-3-3. Elective officers; certain officers may be appointive.

The elective officers of all municipalities operating under a code charter shall be the mayor, the aldermen, municipal judge, the marshal or chief of police, the tax collector, the tax assessor, and the city or town clerk. However, the governing authorities of the municipality shall have the power, by ordinance, to combine the office of clerk or marshal with the office of tax collector and/or tax assessor. Such governing authorities shall have the further power to provide that all or any of such officers, except those of mayor and aldermen, shall be appointive, in which case the marshal or chief of police, the tax collector, the tax assessor, and the city or town clerk, or such of such officers as may be made appointive, shall be appointed by the said governing authorities. Any action taken by the governing authorities to make any of such offices appointive shall be by ordinance of such municipality, and no such ordinance shall be adopted within ninety (90) days prior to any regular general election for the election of municipal officers. No such ordinance shall become effective during the term of office of any officer whose office shall be affected thereby. If any such office is made appointive, the person appointed thereto shall hold office at the pleasure of the governing authorities and may be discharged by such governing authorities at any time, either with or without cause, and it shall be discretionary with the governing authorities whether or not to require such person appointed thereto to reside within the corporate limits of the municipality in order to hold such office.

§ 21-3-5. Appointive officers.



From and after the expiration of the terms of office of present municipal officers, the mayor and board of aldermen of all municipalities operating under this chapter shall have the power and authority to appoint a street commissioner, and such other officers and employees as may be necessary, and to prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all such officers and employees. All officers and employees so appointed shall hold office at the pleasure of the governing authorities and may be discharged by such governing authorities at any time, either with or without cause. The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power and authority, in their discretion, to appoint the same person to any two (2) or more of the appointive offices, and in a municipality having a population of less than fifteen thousand (15,000), according to the latest available federal census, a member of the board of aldermen may be appointed to the office of street commissioner. In municipalities not having depositories, the clerk shall serve as ex officio treasurer. The municipal governing authorities shall require all officers and employees handling or having the custody of any public funds of such city to give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in an amount to be determined by the governing authority (which shall be not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00)), the premium on same to be paid from the municipal treasury. The terms of office or employment of all officers and employees so appointed shall expire at the expiration of the term of office of the governing authorities making the appointment, unless such officers or employees shall have been sooner discharged as herein provided.

§ 21-8-23. Municipal departments; surety bond.

1) The municipality may have a department of administration and such other departments as the council may establish by ordinance. All of the administrative functions, powers and duties of the municipality shall be allocated and assigned among and within such departments.

(2) Each department shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the council present and voting at any such meeting. Each director shall serve during the term of office of the mayor appointing him, and until the appointment and qualification of his successor.

(3) The mayor may, in his discretion, remove the director of any department. Directors of departments shall be excluded from the coverage of any ordinance or general law providing for a civil service system in the municipality; provided, however, all individuals serving as heads of departments at the time of the municipality's adoption of the mayor-council form as described in this chapter shall continue to be covered by the provisions of the civil service system in effect at the time the mayor-council form is adopted.

(4) Directors of departments shall appoint subordinate officers and employees within their respective departments and may, with approval of the mayor, remove such officers and employees subject to the provisions of any ordinance establishing a civil service system where that system is effective in the municipality, or other general law; provided, however, that the council may provide by ordinance for the appointment and removal of specific boards or commissions by the mayor.

(5) Whenever the city council is authorized by any provision of general law to appoint the members of any board, authority or commission, such power of appointment shall be deemed to vest in the mayor with the confirmation of an affirmative vote of a majority of the council present and voting at any meeting.

(6) The council shall also require all officers and employees handling or having the custody of any of the public funds of such municipality to give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in an amount to be determined by the council (which shall not be less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), the premium on which bonds shall be paid by the city.

[Tully Mars]

Based on what I read into this, the appointed positions expire at the end of the term in which they were appointed. Each appointed position will have to be reappointed at the beginning of the next term. I don't however, see a deadline for accomplishing this task. I would think that to keep Wynn's appointment legal it would have to take place within a reasonable timeframe following the election.

From my experiences with the county, the board typically would make reappointments a month or so into the new term.

[HubCitySlicker]

Tully, H'burg has a Mayor-Council Form of Gov't, Not Mayor-Alderman. Don't have time to search for the pertinent code sections, but it is in Title 21 of the Code. May very well be that the answer to the question is the same, and I believe appointments are required every 4 years under the Mayor-Council form, as well.

[Tully Mars]

Tully, H'burg has a Mayor-Council Form of Gov't, Not Mayor-Alderman. Don't have time to search for the pertinent code sections, but it is in Title 21 of the Code. May very well be that the answer to the question is the same, and I believe appointments are required every 4 years under the Mayor-Council form, as well.

Understood Slicker and thanks for the clarification. Of my quotes above, two are from Title 21-3 (Code Charters) and the last is from 21-8 (Mayor-Council). As I understand it the Code Charter section applies to every form of municipal government unless there is a specific provision under the code section that applies to another form, such as mayor-council, that contradicts the Code Charter Section (i.e. 21-3).

[HubCitySlicker]

You're probably correct. Been at least as a couple of years since I've looked at the municipal form of gov't statutes. Like I said, I'm sure appointments must be made ever 4 years, so not disagreeing with you.

[Tully Mars]

Thanks Slicker. I am certainly not an attorney but I do have some experience in dealing with county and municipal government. Quite honestly, the MS Code is at times a real mystery to me. Like I said, I do remember the Board of Supervisors making reappointments a priority early in the term. In fact, if I remember correctly, they review appointments annually where municipalities tend to review them according to terms.

[HubCitySlicker]

As a former County Board Attorney, even counties must reappoint some once a year, including the Board Attorney position, but there really isn't very many administrative appointments for counties, at least those under the beat system.

I just re-read your last post. That is what you siad. Sorry.

[Tully Mars]

You are correct Slicker. Unit Systems Counties basically just appoint the Road Manager, Purchasing Clerk, Board Attorney and County Administrator. All others (like myself formerly) are just hired hacks.