News
City OKs task force
By KEN MUNSON
Jul 14, 2008, 12:08

Concerned about issues within the police department, the City Council voted on Tuesday to form a task force to address retention problems among younger police officers.
Councilor Gerald Stokes brought the issue to the council, noting that the police department has had problems with its newer officers, many of whom opt to join departments in neighboring localities such as Chesterfield County. The task force, which would be made up of residents, would examine the department's methods of promotion, retention, and determining a more equitable pay scale.
Mayor Brenda Pelham, who supported the motion, said that the task force would help the council get an "outside look" at the issues involved.
Stokes also countered concerns about micro-management, saying that the task force would work with the city manager and report to him, and that he had the support of Police Chief Steve Martin.
Despite Stokes' assertions, however, many had a negative reaction to the proposal.
"The City Council has no business dictating to the police department how they promote people or retain people," said Ray Baxley, former deputy police chief for Hopewell.
Councilor Wayne Walton said he felt that the current issues in the police department stemmed from the controversial 2006 council decision recommending to then-City Manager Alan Archer to fire Police Chief Rex Marks, a move which he said "destabilized the police force." The proposed task force, said Walton, would be a similarly bad idea.
"I look at this as council interference in the city manager's job," said Walton, who was greeted with applause from the audience for his comments. "We should not be in the position of doing the city manager's job."
Councilor Ken Emerson offered a substitute motion that would allow the city manager and police chief to investigate and address the retention problems however they saw fit (including possibly forming a task force). The substitute motion did not pass, with only Emerson, Walton and Councilor Curtis Harris supporting it.
The mechanics of the task force — who would serve on it, who would appoint the members — was not made clear in the discussion After the meeting, however, Stokes said that he thought that Mayor Brenda Pelham would make the appointments.

© Hopewell News 2007