I received an e mail from City Hall yesterday afternoon advising that James Mike Rose has been hired as the interim police chief. The Personnel Committee met last night to discuss qualifications and salary requirements in order to advertise the job opening for police chief. In attendance were Alderman Anderson, Mayor Crosby, Henry Dean and Shannon Crutcher. Three members were absent. Alderman Muhlstadt delivered information gathered by a committee member as to salary and qualifications from White House, Millersville, Greenbrier and Pleasant View. The committee agreed to set the bar higher on qualifications and raise the pay to the $36-50K range. Officer Cole spoke to the committee on the need for background checks for new officers. Everyone seemed to be in agreement as to the need for background checks, but no decision was reached as to whether that would be accomplished in-house or from an outside source. Alderman Anderson allowed a questions from the audience which was comprised of Alderman Muhlstadt, Susan Slawson, Officer Cole, and myself. However, when I asked the mayor about where the new interim chief came from and how he got here, he replied "He's here because I hired him." No further explanation was given. Apparently he has been on the job for about a week.

Peggy Ruth wrote:

However, when I asked the mayor about where the new interim chief came from and how he got here, he replied "He's here because I hired him." No further explanation was given.

Well Peggy, the way things work is you hire someone from within to act as interim police chief. When you hire the permanent chief the interim goes back to his previous rank. What is to happen to this interim chief when the personal committee hires a regular chief and they don't reccommend him? I don't know of any body who would relocate or quit his current job just to be in an interim position. Allow me to give my opinion. The current interim chief will be the permanent chief and the personnel committee is just another one of the Mayor's snow jobs. How do I know that? This is why:

"He's here because I hired him."

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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum. Adlai E. Stevenson American Lawyer, Politician.

In ctownpvnews Billy Pugh wrote:

Paul I have been participating as of the Jan meeting with the personel committee. I missed last nights meeting unexpectedly. I talked with Alderman Anderson about this matter of chief, as he is the chair member of the personel committee. He told me we are going to interview from a pool of applicants. This 'interim' title does not give it to him without any interviews as far as I know. I accepted that position in hopes of having some kind of an influence over our hiring policies. I think it was a good idea to extend a hand to what I think I should acknowledge is the opposition side, by Alderman Anderson. I hope he and I can get to know each other even better. I see promise in that idea at least and hope for more chances to have a meeting of the minds. I think I am very reasonable and practicle. It would be nice to be able to demonstrate that point of view to some who may not have agreed with me at first. I still am dissapointed in the funding of the lights and no true attempt on Crosby's part, from what I see, to mend the fences with the other agencies willing to pony up for some kind of share. I will take something over nothing in that situation all day, everyday!

Quoting Mayor Crosby, The RCTimes wrote:

The applications have come from as far as Michigan and New York and as close by as Springfield and Adams within the county. Advertising for the job began this week as Coopertown’s personnel committee begins reviewing applications and conducting job interviews. Crosby is a member of the committee. “Over the next 45 to 60 days, we will be reviewing applicants,” Crosby said, adding that a candidate will likely be brought before the board of mayor and aldermen at its March meeting. Until a new chief is hired, the department’s three shift sergeants are handling day-to-day operations, according to Sergeant David Cole.

Billy, you don't even have to read between the lines to see a new chief has already been hired. If this individual came anywhere beyond a one hours drive to Coopertown, then he's your man.

Crosby stated a candidate will likely be brought before the March BMA meeting. That will be next month. It has been over a month since his statements were made in the press. How many candidates have you interview so far? None? This committee's sole job is to determine qualifications, pay and background checks. Nothing more but possibly less.
Even Sergeant Cole said the shift sergeants will conduct day to day business until a new chief is hired. Nobody said anything about an interim chief. There is no interim chief, just going through the motions until the next BMA meeting when the majority will rule.

I will be curious to see his statement to the press explaining the interim chief when the only answer he would give a member of the board is:

"He's here because I hired him"

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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum. Adlai E. Stevenson American Lawyer, Politician.

In today's Tennessean:


Coopertown hires new interim police chief

It’s a “new day” for Coopertown said Mayor Danny Crosby, who has appointed Mike Rose as interim chief, pending a final decision to be made closer to spring.

Rose, who served his first day on Feb. 11 is a former sergeant who worked his way through the ranks of the Maury County Sheriff’s Department and is also a graduate of Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.

In addition to his 18 years in law enforcement, Rose has a resume that includes numerous qualifications: Staffing a new jail in Maury County; experience with budget making under the Maury County sheriff; and serving the U.N. during the Kosovo conflict as chief investigator over his area of responsibility.

The day after seeing the story about the firing of Bill Rush on Fox News, Rose submitted a letter of interest to Crosby. While serving in Maury County, Rose was in charge of many other officers as a sergeant.

The interim chief is promising as Crosby sees it. He said that Rose has knowledge in working with personnel, planning and other decisions concerning employees.

Crosby added that he did not want the new police chief to come from within Coopertown Police Department.

“I chose not to promote anyone from within the ranks,” Crosby said.

Crosby said that he knows what more to look for now and that meant looking outside of Coopertown for the right person.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Crosby said. “You want someone who is very seasoned, from outside of the police department, someone with management skills, people skills, and who knows the importance of background searches.

Rose has expressed plans to change the perception of the Coopertown Police Department but he intends to maintain a cooperative attitude in doing so.

“I’m overhauling this police department. But I’m going to build a team. I want the people to work with me,” Rose said.

Although Rose is filling a temporary position, Crosby is confident in the abilities he has already shown for the job and said he is glad to have Rose on board.

“He fell into the groove here,” Crosby said, adding that officers are currently “working hand-in-hand” with him.

Rose is reworking the application process and rewriting the hiring policy for the police department. This is a large part of the work he has been doing since he started.

According to Rose, there were some liability issues when he began the job and though he’s not looking to “reinvent the wheel,” he said there are definitely some problems that needed to be addressed.

Crosby said that Rose has already demonstrated a turn from the negligent hiring practices of the past.

“[He] has done a lot that has never been done since I’ve been mayor of this city,” Crosby said, referring to the research Rose has done regarding new hires.

Still, Rose acknowledges that he is not the only one in on this process.

“I want the city council, the mayor and the personnel board involved,” Rose said. “That way if there’s something I miss, they’ll catch it.”

Not only is Rose working with city government, but he wants the citizens to know that he is there for them.

“We’re going to get good, quality [police officers]. The people of Coopertown deserve that,” Rose said.

He also believes the people deserve an open door policy from their new police chief.

“I’ve got a lot to do to change the public’s perception and my door is open to the people,” Rose said. “If there’s a problem or even if there’s something good, tell me. If you can’t come to me, I’ll come to you.”

The decision to make Rose the full-time police chief of Coopertown will depend on the personnel board making a decision sometime soon, possibly in the next month. Rose has applied for the full-time position.

Until a decision is made on who will be the next full-time police chief of Coopertown, Rose will be helping with the day-to-day operations of the police department.

“I moved 71 miles and turned down two jobs to take this,” Rose said.

Former Chief Bill Rush was terminated at his Portland home Saturday, Dec. 22 when Coopertown police officers delivered a letter from Crosby. Crosby’s letter states that Rush “failed to comply with the direction [he] has been given regarding the management of the police department” and that Crosby “is of the opinion that you can not and will not manage the police department in a manner that is consistent with the desires of not only me, but an informal consensus of the governing body.”

Bill Rush was promoted to chief following the dismissal of his predecessor Dave Barrera on May 7, 2006.

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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum. Adlai E. Stevenson American Lawyer, Politician.

In the Tennessean Mayor Crosby wrote:

It’s a “new day” for Coopertown said Mayor Danny Crosby, who has appointed Mike Rose as interim chief... The interim chief is promising as Crosby sees it.... Crosby added that he did not want the new police chief to come from within Coopertown Police Department. “I chose not to promote anyone from within the ranks,” Crosby said. Crosby said that he knows what more to look for now “I’ve learned a lot,” Crosby said. Although Rose is filling a temporary position,...“He fell into the groove here,” Crosby said,

My, My, My, You people on the personal committee need to help the mayor out every now an then. Seems he's having to do all the leg work and decision making on hiring the new police chief. I bet anybody a dollar to a doughnut the new chief has been hired and the personnel committee is nothing more than a dog and pony show. I also wish the new chief the best of luck in his new position in Coopertown. Lord knows he will need it. I hope he did his homework, else he is in for a wild ride or he is a glutton for a challenge. Chief, if you are allowed to read this forum, one piece of advice: HAVE YOUR RANK AND FILE WRITE TICKETS!! TICKETS!! TICKETS!! and you will outlast the too numerous to count predecessors who failed to put that advice on top of their priority list. Mayor Crosby likes to refer writing tickets as being "productive", but you will learn what that buzz word means as time goes on.

I wonder why Mayor Crosby didn't give the condensed version of this story to the Tennessean like he gave to Peggy Ruth:

"He's here because I hired him"

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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum. Adlai E. Stevenson American Lawyer, Politician.