Arcade police staff cut
Arcade has become the third town in Jackson County to cut its staff, or implement furloughs due to budget problems.
Arcade police chief Randy Williams confirmed Friday that four of his seven employees have been cut. This leaves only the police chief and two patrol officers.
“We are sworn to protect and serve and that is what we three will do,” Williams said. “The sheriff’s office has been so supportive. The times we are not here, the county will cover the town for us.”
Williams said he and the officers would follow up and investigate incidents that occur when they are not on duty.
Mayor Doug Haynie informed Williams last Monday of the cuts. The matter has not been discussed at a city council meeting.
“These last of couple of days have been among the worst of my life,” Williams said of having to let the staff go. “It’s been very emotional. I was knocking on other chief’s doors the next day. Hopefully, the officers will get other jobs soon.”
Pendergrass cut its staff two weeks ago Hoschton employees must take one day per week off without pay.
“We are sworn to protect and serve and that is what we three will do,” Williams said. “The sheriff’s office has been so supportive. The times we are not here, the county will cover the town for us.”
Williams said he and the officers would follow up and investigate incidents that occur when they are not on duty.
Mayor Doug Haynie informed Williams last Monday of the cuts. The matter has not been discussed at a city council meeting.
“These last of couple of days have been among the worst of my life,” Williams said of having to let the staff go. “It’s been very emotional. I was knocking on other chief’s doors the next day. Hopefully, the officers will get other jobs soon.”
Pendergrass cut its staff two weeks ago Hoschton employees must take one day per week off without pay.
More to it: Yes, the Chief told his officers that everything was fine…because that is what the BUDGET COMMITTEE told him. The department didn’t go down hill after the three left, the morale actually went up and for good reason. You wonder if the same thing would have happened under Dennis Bell…YES, there is not enough money. I personally know most of the officers and can tell you the officer’s have nothing but respect for Chief Williams…except of coarse the several that left a few months ago (a couple of which were fired.) They preferred the past administration because they could do as the pleased with no repercussions.
All of this back and forth is really unnecessary and will not "fix" anything. Someone needs to get to the bottom of the WHY. Why are there administrators that have not had pay cuts? Why did the Budget Committee state there was not a problem? What is really going on?
Do you know anything at all about taxes? Let me explain the basic sales tax because that's all Arcade gets as far as taxes go. There is a state sales tax of...anyone, anyone...4% on the dollar. BUT there is this thing called a local option. It is for county governments to add to the base of 4%. These options can vary from 1% to 3% with a variety of conditions the money can be spent on. There is also a SPLOST which allows for community enhancing projects. Cities can also add a smaller option. Ok so now you know about sales tax which it is clear by your post you had no clue.
Now, here's where your idea kicks in, the state takes that 4% (and local options) and gives some of it back to the local governments (county and/or city). And you are absolutely right it has decreased and usually is not delivered in a timely manner. The State pretty much sends it when they want to. The question here is does Arcade contribute through sales tax annually enough so that when they get their check it would cover the cost of the employees? There is also money coming in from alcohol sales in the City. So tally all that up (with the few number of businesses in Arcade it shouldn’t take long) add the money that is actually raised from Court fines and your result should be very close to your payroll. Is this the case in Arcade? Not a snow balls chance in hell. I would like to know where you got your figure of 5% coming from fines. That may be the current figure, but it is a failing figure and 5% from a City that provides no profiting service or city tax, will put you exactly where you are heading. Just explain to me where the 95% is coming from. And if you say sales tax, read the last paragraph.
I am wondering if the police officers aren’t blaming the council and the administrative part of the city for all of this. It sounds like there is a lot of animosity against the city manager, how much does she make? And the clerk and secretary, how much do they make? Why would you lay off officers who make money for the city and keep employees that don’t raise any revenue? Just sounds like there is some venting that is being done.
Lastly young lady, be very careful on who you try to school, it is abundantly clear you have only a conceptual grasp of sales tax and you’re going off telling those who do know they need to do their research and that they are ignorant. Let me school you on this, ignorance is acceptable. Ignorance is having no knowledge of something you never learned. For example I am ignorant on how to fly the space shuttle, nothing wrong with that, never been taught. Stupidity, now that’s a horse of a different color. Be careful which one you try to drive.
I'm not trying to pick on you but you seem to be the voice a group with a message I can't fully understand. A few (or just one under different names) have expressed support for the new chief and the professional officers that are/were employed there right? I am looking at the police department as a sort of business, in reality it is. The police department is funded by (from what I gather here) fines, sales tax, and building fees. Since there are no new buildings lets just take that out and we have sales tax and fines. Which of the two is controlled by the Chief? Do you really think the criminal element decreases in a recession? Do you think they don’t drive without a license because of a recession? The variance in criminal behavior and activity has actually been shown to increase during recessions. So why are tickets so low? It’s not that the opportunity isn’t there. The chief must motivate his officers to enforce the laws of Georgia (fines) in order to maintain the City. In the business world this type of Department Head would be fired. It is his responsibility for the success and productivity of the people under his charge. He is a financial failure.
So let’s look at the professional employees/department. I am assuming they too have the professional savvy to appreciate the financial success of a business like Arcade. Well…I guess not because at no point did anyone’s bell go off and say, “hey we got to write tickets or this place will go under.” If you don’t want to write tickets and you want to be a cop, I suggest you go somewhere that the City has a tax or other means of revenue. Don’t you get that?
Oh but morale is better and everyone is happy!!! Well how bout a big three person hug. I guess the three of you are happy, you have jobs!! for now. Well you shouldn’t be, especially the chief, his men women and let’s face it, the city, are suffering under his watch. Still better off?
So the former Chief (Bell), who according to you was evil and had little evil workers, ran the police department well enough to convince everyone the police department could write enough tickets to pay for two new buildings and a huge city staff. And he may have pulled it off but he left, but the numbers had to be there at one time. Of the employees under that Chief one is left and the place has completely fallen apart.
Someone asked about Blake Yeargin, from what I understand he and some others saw this coming, wasn’t being treated like the female officer and they left. Except one got fired and I'm guessing that's the Greg who posted below but the paper said it had something to do with the female officer and something. I'd like to hear his story.
Yet somehow, the place is better off? How?
Wake up! Failure is not better!
You have your opinion; I have mine. We will have to leave it at that. I am only responding to correct you on some things.
1st, get your facts straight before posting a response.
I NEVER said that Dennis Bell was evil, or had little evil workers. You are making statements that are completely untrue. You do not know me, nor do I know you, but I assure you that I know Dennis personally and will not have his name slandered so to look as if I was the one that did it. Take your agenda to someone else's blog.
Secondly, ALL THREE of the existing employees of the P.D. worked under Dennis Bell, including the current chief. Again, this to proves that I do not think they were all "little evil workers".
Now, let me make myself VERY clear. I meant no disrespect to Dennis Bell, nor did I mean any disrespect to the former officers. I do not appreciate your bashing Dennis Bell as if on my behalf. If you have a problem with the former chief, deal with it on your own terms; DO NOT drag my name into it.
By no means was I trying to bash Dennis. I thought I was pointing out his success. You wrote something about officers doing what they wanted under Dennis is where the paraphrase "evil workers". I would not consider them evil either. So I think we meet more in the middle than we both thought. I know Dennis as well but then again who doesn't?
And for those who think the police force was finally a professional force...have you seen a true professional force before? Your barney and fief force is about as rediculas as they come. For crying out loud...they have 4 different uniforms and 3 different color schemes on the cars...not to mention the fact that they don't even have a standardized sidearm.....I can go on and on about their lack of professionalism, but I think I proved my point.
Also, along the lines of smoking: it is illegal to smoke in public buildings.....and since cars are extensions of offices, it should be illegal to smoke in police cars. Especially if they will be transporting prisoners.
#12 Mike why should the people in Arcade have to pay higher property tax just to have enough police officers to patrol Arcade? If they were to get rid of the City Administrator and the city council and elect a new city council from the people who do live in Arcade they would care more about how much money was spent and on what?
I think if you run for City council it should be a rule that you must live in that city?
Uh, that is the rule. When I was there all the council members and mayor lived in the city. Unless you know otherwise, I'm pretty sure its the case with all government elected officials.
What an awesome name!!! But you are way off. I was somewhere in the back of long line I couldn’t even see the front of it, filled with people who can’t stand “that female officer”. But I left that line a long time ago.
I got a call from a friend saying my name and situation has come up on this page. Let me make this very clear to you. I have no problems saying anything to anyone from Arcade good or bad and using my name. I am not intimidated by you or even in the least bit concerned about what goes on over there. The doom of Arcade has been evident for a good while now to any educated person.
If you want me to write about the female officer, I could do that for days with facts to back it up. But I don’t care. I’m a lot happier now working harder for less money. There’s no: backstabbing, two faced want-a-b’s, cheating, drama, just work, you should try it.
I left with my integrity and still have the respect of the officers in that county as well as the court system and the people I had contact with. This was earned through my actions and how well I treated others. It was not achieved by talking everyone else down to try and make myself look better. Everyone reading this knows people like that. So whichever of the three that is left that is still so consumed by my existence that their rage boils over into all caps, grow up and get over it, and yourself. Because at the end of the day, that’s who you have to live with.
And if you would like to debate (which requires calculated cognitive thought processes, not insults) then I would be happy to discuss any portion of my “FIRING” with you and we can just get it all out. As you well know, I have no problem with what I did that caused my FIRING, EX-DETECTIVE, FORMER OFFICER WHAT EVER ELSE YOU WANT TO ALL CAP TO MAKE ME LOOK BAD. It was the moral and ethical thing to do. I was even warned by Mike that the Chief would crucify me, but my conscious could not let it go.
Now the question is; how long will you hide and hypocritically accuse me of doing exactly what you are doing?
Signed real big like John Hancock,
GREG MADDOX
If you are also sooooo concerned as to how everything is being run, why don't you (and other concerned citizens) actually show up at council meetings? They're open to everyone as are the budget and expenses. Fee free to look at them if you actually want to get off your lazy, finger-pointing rear end.
Next time you have something dis-respectful put your name on the post. Just one more bit of information for you just in case you want to be dis-respectful to my face.
100 Woodland Hills Drive
A Disabled Vietnam Veteran
God Bless America
If you don't have anything valuable to contribute why don't you mow the lawn or something?
I think FJCR was just making a joke about the cartoon (it is widely believed Scooby and Shaggy were high all the time). And Scooby was joining in on the comment(?) that CONCERNED left in all caps. Which I too, can not understand. What's with the "fool" word?
I hope you both know Shaggy is an Arcade citizen, they all live out on Stoner Rd. across from Joe Sikes' place so let him be...he's just a cartoon for gods sake.
And by not exercising it, you are allowing the bullies who would take it from you to do so.
BTW, I'm glad our founding fathers left their families to gain our freedom but you go back to your family and don't say anything. The world will go on without you.
The main thing I really want to say in here is that for the past seven years, the average attendance at a city council meeting is dismal at best. With our current crisis, it did bring out many residents of our community. Our Mayor and Council put all the information "on the table" so to speak. The financial picture is bleak, but we are trying to work things out, create some new revenue streams and find positive solutions to end this issue. At last Monday's meeting, there were some very positive ideas and some new ones and I personaly think it's great. We will check into what we can legally do.
Just for the record, our festivals and upcoming road race (tomorrow) as well as several donations made by private citizens will pay for the monument to Arcade and Jackson County's war heros. I would ask that no one malign the monument or the memory of those brave people with conjectures as I have seen posted here and in the ABH website.
I encourage any citizens of Arcade to be involved in this issue.
Attend all meetings that you can.
Ask questions.
Be involved.
Tom Hays
tomhays10@yahoo.com
We all hate to see layoffs but this is a prudent move by a prudent government during bad economic times.
3 police officers with the help of the Sherrif's dept can adequately take care of Arcade. We are a very small town.
For the comment about needing a gun, yes everyone should own a firearm. The police can not be everywhere all the time and we don't want that many police in any case. Police are for stopping the bad guys AFTER they commit a crime. Preventing crime is almost impossible, with few exceptions, when a human being is determined to do evil.
More guns = less crime. More police officers = more annoying regulation. (tickets, etc.)
Small government is good government.
Your impression of Mike may be good, but as a man you couldn't more wrong. You just don't know him. I worked with him when he was with the county and still know him. He talks bad about everyone when they are not around. But I will say he is a good actor. He's fooled many. You included I guess. And he has a great imagination (which really means something else).Why did he leave the Sheriff's office any way if he is a "gentleman and great officer?"
I could point out deficits in just about anyone but I have to judge this particular man simply by the way he behaved in my presence. I like him until he gives me a reason not to like him.
Write me at mjaymc@gmail.com
Would you say it was ok if Atlanta layed off half of it's police force? If you lived there you wouldn't you would want all them cops there to protect you and your stuff. People in Arcade like there stuff as much as people in Atlanta does.
I don't think anyone is considering "no police at all." The county will take over, as it has, and all the concerns will be settled. Arcade citizens want fast response time and they will get it, compaired to a county response, but if they want it so bad, they're going to have to pay for with a tax or a city service. Just like "wake up" said. I think that is pretty clear to anyone or at least it should be.
And Atlanta v. Arcade is certainly apples and oranges. We are talking about a town with less than 1900 people. There's more people than that at the local highschool football game. Think about it like that.
One more thing Do you think you are big enough and bad enough to wash my mouth out with soap?
We need answers. How are things going to be taken care of? I've read a lot of name throwing but no one is answering the questions. And the only people with the guts here are the ones who used their names, Mike, Greg, Stephen and Tom. Get past that and lets talk about how this situation is going to be fixed. Stop avoiding the issues.