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‘No
conclusion’
No action taken on investigation
of Carbondale police officer
Wayne White
Managing Editor
CARBONDALE—More than a month after an incident at a street
dance resulted in complaints against a police officer, the Carbondale
City Council president announced Monday the council remains unable
to resolve the issue.
At the Sept. 15 council meeting, the council requested an independent
investigation of officer Gregg Wallace, after a parent alleged improper
treatment of her minor child following a disturbance at the Sept.
13 street dance. Carbondale City Attorney Sue DeVoe confirmed Wallace
was the subject of more than one written complaint received by the
city regarding the incident.
At the September meeting, a mother claimed that her daughter was
forced to the ground by Wallace and handcuffed because of pushing
and shoving going on within a group of people. Another mother said
her daughter was assaulted by someone in the group and had to flee
from the disturbance. During that meeting, the council approved
requesting an outside law enforcement agency to conduct an independent
investigation. After the Kansas Bureau of Investigation declined
to investigate the incident, council president Mike Fulton said
the Hillsboro, Mo., police department would investigate. DeVoe clarified
Monday that the Holt, Mo., police department had conducted an investigation.
During Monday’s meeting, the council called two executive
sessions to discuss personnel, one for 15 minutes and a second for
10 minutes, but after 40 minutes of closed-door discussion, Fulton
announced no decision had been made.
“On the investigation that was performed, we have to officially
say it was incomplete, because the witnesses that needed to be interviewed
were not interviewed,” Fulton said. “So if we were to
come to any conclusions at this point, it wouldn’t be fair
because the witnesses were not talked to.
“We feel we need to get an unbiased person to actually talk
to these witnesses face to face so we can get this thing done and
over with and we can move on.”
With Fulton asking if any of the approximately 20 people in attendance
had questions, a citizen asked how long the investigation would
take.
“We want to get this thing over with as soon as possible,”
Fulton said. “So as far as giving an exact date, we can’t
do it. We’re going to do it soon.”
When questioned if another police department would conduct the investigation,
Fulton said the council might ask the Holt Police Department to
interview the witnesses.
“If need be, our chief is very capable of doing it, but if
he was to do it, I don’t think it would look good, because
there’s obviously people who have opinions, a lot of rumors
flying around, that sort of thing,” Fulton said.
He said another possibility would be to request the Osage County
Sheriff’s Office to conduct the investigation.
“We have to do what we have to do to make sure it’s
completely unbiased,” he said.
Mayor Ruth Towne said, “As far as tonight’s concerned,
there’s no conclusion.”
In other business, the council:
• heard from Donna Crawford, of Governmental Assistance Services,
that the city did not have enough money in a KDHE revolving loan
fund to pay final bills for the recent water project. Crawford suggested
the city could either amend the loan and budget or pay the overage
from the city’s water fund or reserve fund. Crawford offered
to assist the city with necessary amendment paperwork at no charge.
The council is to consider how to pay the approximately $43,000
and decide at the next council meeting. The overage was said to
be the result of change orders in the project.
• heard from maintenance supervisor Kevin Richardson, who
said he had obtained estimates for tires for the 2004 Ford maintenance
truck. Richardson reported that a Scranton business offered a lower
price and a better road hazard warranty than a Carbondale tire supplier.
On a motion from Fulton, the council approved purchasing the tires
in Carbondale.
• discussed prices for slides for the proposed aquatic center.
Council members agreed the prices should be discussed later, after
the upcoming one percent sales tax election. If approved by voters,
the sales tax is to be used to improve, construct, equip and maintain
a public swimming pool.
• discussed a letter from Gaylord Anderson, president of State
Bank of Carbondale. Anderson said in the letter that if the city
was to pay costs to connect a new business to the city sewer system,
the bank expected to be allowed to have sewer service under the
same conditions. Carbondale City Clerk Sandy Schiffelbein said she
informed Anderson that a cost estimate had not been determined,
and a decision has not been made regarding connecting other businesses
to the new sewer line. At a previous meeting, the council agreed
to extend the sewer line, provided a Dollar General Store would
be built on the property.
• set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday for interviewing
and reviewing background checks of applicants for an opening in
the maintenance department. Councilman Lee Curtis said he would
not participate in the interviews because he opposed filling the
position. |
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