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| NEWS > 13 September 2007 |
Other related articles:
Secret report recommends drug
A previously secret report by Queensland's corruption watchdog recommends improved ethics education, possible random drug testing of all police and swifter disciplinary action.
Police Minister Neil Roberts today tabled in Parliament a summary of recommendations from a Crime and Misconduct Commission report tackling police misconduct, codenamed Project Grinspoon.
While the report remains confidential, it made 36 recommendations for "enhancing integrity" in the service, 35 of which have been or will be implemented by the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Among the suggestio... Read more
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Rhea County Online - Dayton,TN
13 September 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Graysville PD in shambles:fath
Before a crowd of over 40 people and a television news camera, the Graysville Board of Mayor and Commissioners attempted to clear the muddy waters that surround the Graysville Police Department and officers Brian Alexander, Charles Haubrich and Chief Michael Caraway.
Mike Farris, a resident of Graysville, brought the issue before the board and the public. “Everybody here needs to hear this,” Farris said. “I had a problem with one of the officers fooling my daughter, who was a minor.”
Farris said he was initially informed of a relationship between Alexander, a 2004 Rhea County graduate who joined the Graysville Police Department in July, and his daughter, who turned 18 in August, over a month ago. Farris said the meetings occurred before July 18, at which time his daughter left to visit family in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Now, Farris is claiming that his daughter actually got into a parked police car with Haubrich while on duty, who Farris said admitted to him to asking her to get in the car to discuss a problem he was having with his own daughter.
Graysville Town Recorder Michelle Horton said on Tuesday that Alexander was actually suspended about a month ago due to issues with the county, not due to involvement with Farris’ daughter.
According to Farris, Haubrich wrote a letter to Caraway concerning Alexander’s involvement with the minor Farris. The letter was written after Alexander was placed on suspension. Farris said the purpose of this letter was to cover up the truth of the incident with his daughter.
In an interview with The Herald-News on Tuesday, Farris said he received a copy of the “vulgar and humiliating” letter about his daughter and Alexander and their time in a police vehicle. He said the letter was dated Aug. 17 and signed by Haubrich.
However, Mike Farris said he spotted Alexander while shopping and approached him about the letter. According to Farris, Alexander looked him in the eyes and told him he was not involved with his daughter, a statement that Farris accepted.
Farris said he and Alexander then approached Haubrich, at which time Farris said Haubrich admitted meeting with his daughter to discuss the issue concerning Haubrich’s daughter.
Farris said he then approached his daughter, who admitted to meeting with Haubrich. “Her words were almost identical,” Farris said on Tuesday.
Farris said he took the letter to Horton “a few weeks ago.” Upon leaving the letter with Horton, Farris said he decided to take a copy of the letter to the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.
At Monday’s meeting, the board decided to tackle the tough issue. A motion was made and passed to terminate Alexander’s position. In addition, Mayor Andy Beene said former Chief Caraway submitted a verbal resignation on Friday evening, which the board voted to accept.
Officer Jon Hopper was named as the interim police chief until next month’s meeting.
“Alexander was fired due to issues with the county, not this issue [with Farris],” Horton said on Tuesday.
At Monday’s meeting, Farris was upset that Haubrich was still wearing the city’s badge while being surrounded by allegations that, in his opinion, haven’t been discussed.
“It was discussed and there wasn’t any sort of proof as of yet,” Commissioner Jimmy Massengill said. After an abrupt adjournment of the meeting by Beene, several commissioners and citizens stayed to listen to Farris’ concerns.
The board informed Farris that an investigation regarding Haubrich was continuing, though it is waiting on a witness to come forward.
“How is he allowed to still patrol our streets?” Farris asked. “Why is he not suspended until this investigation is over?”
When asked about a witness, Farris said his daughter, as well as Haubrich, had admitted the incident to him.
“We still need someone who physically witnessed it, not hearsay, to come forward,” Commissioner Tammy Chapman said.
The board informed Farris that Haubrich has since denied admitting anything.
“Would your daughter be willing to come to the board or make a phone call?” Massengill asked. Farris questioned the difference between his word and his daughter’s word.
“Why is my word no good? I am a citizen of this town… and right now my word isn’t worth a dime,” Farris said.
“All we are asking for is one witness,” Chapman said.
The board has met with Carol Ann Barron, the town attorney, regarding the issue, at which time Chapman said Farris was informed by Barron that a witness was needed.
“Anyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Farris said.
“Not in this case, Mike,” Vice Mayor Bob Harrold said. “You want to blame him now.”
On Tuesday, Farris said he has not asked a witness to come forward because he did not want to involve any innocent outside parties.
“I don’t want them to be scared and intimated,” Farris said. “I’ve been through enough humiliation, why should I bring anyone else in?”
In addition, though Farris admitted that his daughter is often rebellious, and she knew better, the officer was the one wearing the badge.
Farris said at this point, he wants the board to take action against Officer Haubrich, and in the future show sympathy and deal with issues in a quicker fashion.
“I’m not asking for any special favors,” Farris said. “All I want is justice.”
In an interview with Chapman on Monday night, she said the investigation is continuing, and at this point, without a witness, it is just one man’s word against another.
“The board was just notified about this a few days ago,” Chapman said. “I feel we have handled it in a timely fashion.”
Horton confirmed on Tuesday that the board was not informed of this matter until about 10 days ago. In addition, Horton said the matter was turned over to the Sheriff’s Department, though the city is now handling the investigation at this time.
The board also asked Horton to research the option of having the Sheriff’s Department provide 24-hour police protection for the town.
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