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Mayor Asks Council To Fire Flomaton Police Chief
November 17, 2010
Flomaton’s mayor is calling for the town’s police chief to be fired, but the town council refused to fire him at a special meeting Tuesday night.
Police Chief Katarius Jenkins says Mayor Dewey Bondurant fired him last Friday, but the mayor says he did not.
“Our police chief quit,” the mayor said during a special council meeting Tuesday night. “He said that I fired him, but I didn’t. But since he didn’t come to work Monday, I assume he’s fired now.”
Bondurant would not comment on what led to the disagreement with the police chief, other than to say it was “an issue with an employee”.
“For the record, I didn’t quit,” Jenkins (pictured) told the council. “It was an issue about an employee that the mayor wanted me to fire. He said the guy didn’t do anything wrong, but if I couldn’t handle it, he would. So I felt that if the guy didn’t do anything wrong, why fire him.” Jenkins, who was out of the town Friday during his conversation with the mayor about the employee, said he asked the mayor it to “handle it”.
“He said ’since you can’t do what I tell you to do, you can pack your things up and turn them into to me’,” Jenkins said Bondurant told him.
Jenkins said only the Flomaton council — not the mayor — could fire him, but the mayor said the police handbook gives him that authority. “I believe that technically, I am still the chief of police of Flomaton,” Jenkins said.
“The mayor has complete authority over the police department and can hire and fire who he wants,” Bondurant said.
“We are either going to have to have a good police department, or forget it. “This half you know what is not working,” Councilman Buster Crapps (pictured) said, expressing his displeasure over the number of police chiefs that Flomaton has had in recent years. He suggested that disbanding the police department and turning law enforcement over to the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office would be a poor idea. “So you might as well just forget about having a town if other people is going to run it. So let’s get our rear ends together and figure this thing out like it ought to be.”
Bondurant called for a motion from the council to fire Jenkins. Instead, the council requested more information about the situation and voted to go into executive session behind closed doors. After less than 10 minutes in executive session, the council returned with Bondurant once again asking for a motion to fire the chief. Instead, the council set a hearing on the matter for next Monday night.
Jenkins has served as Flomaton’s police chief for about six months.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police Chief Katarius Jenkins addresses the Flomaton Town Council Tuesday night. Pictured top inset: Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant. Pictured middle inset: Jenkins listens as the council discusses his future with the town. Pictured bottom: Council Buster Crapps. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
65 Responses to “Mayor Asks Council To Fire Flomaton Police Chief”
an opininon,
I”m not saying he didn’t do this……….I was only saying I never saw that side of him…………when you think you own the town you do and say a lot of things. How does he feel now that he knows so much of the town is against him and saying he needs to resign or to be impeached? Has the air been let out of his baloon?
to Megan and power,
i have seen him do this and quit a few occasions it was extremely rude and uncalled for
If Duey can fire who he wants, why didn’t he fire the other employee? Duey has been Mayor too long in my opinion. And he thinks he can do whatever he wants! That’s NOT how the Mayor should be. I’m supporting Chief Jenkins!
CITY HALL 5:30 SHARP!!!!WE SUPPORT U JENKINS!
Seems to me that Flomaton needs a new MAYOR NOT A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Lets all be at city hall a back this young man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Megan:
That is a side of Dewey that I have not seen. He could have gone to the person and told them not to park in that direction, and even have signs put up and if it continues give them a ticket. I am not sure what the law is for parking on the opposite side of the street. I know that I don’t do it.
to be honest no one truly knows what happened or what was said, none of us were there when the convo took place but it does sound like Dewey is trying to cover his butt, I personally thing Jenkins is a great guy and a good police chief and our police officers do need to be payed more because how can u honestly make a living on such little pay. I Hope Jenkins needs to stay in as Police Chief and Dewey needs to go he has been the mayor to long. Good Luck Jenkins.
Dewey Bondurant is a disgrace to the town of Flomaton. I have seen him hollering at people in the streets of Flomaton for parking the wrong way. Way to encourage business and tourism in the town, berating people in the street! As soon as I was a witness to that I told my husband I would never be a permanent citizen of Flomaton. Luckily, we got out from under Bondurant…if only we could have stayed long enough to cast a vote against him. I hope for the current citizens that someone stops him.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF THE CHIEF SUPPORTERS WE NEED TO BE A THE CITY HALL MONDAY EVENING AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR CHIEF JENKINS. ME PERSONALLY I THINK CHIEF JENKINS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY OF FLOMATON AND I THINK ITS A CASE OF MICRO MANAGEMENT AND THATS NOT GOING TO WORK. I PRAY THAT THE COUNCIL THINK VERY HARD BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISON . SO IF YOU READ THIS AND YOU SUPPORT CHIEF JENKINS PLEASE TELL EVERY BODY YOU KNOW TO BE AT THE CITY HALL IN FLOMATON AT 5:30 MONDAY .
rukiddingme. I agree with you.
Yes, have you? Or the truth for that matter. Speaking ones opinion of what is obviously wrong or going on is not discremination. It appears to me that is what took place when Dewey was trying to fire Jenkins for not doing a job that he didn’t want to do.
Response to Thinker, who told you this country is a democracy? To Thinker and all the other uneducated, this country is a representative republic, which you would know had you paid attention in civics class. A democracy is four cannibals and a missionary deciding whats for supper.
a
An effective law enforcement agency cannot be operated with interference from Mayor’s, city council members, or county commissioners. Let the trained law enforcement do their job as to how they were trained. The issues that the council and Mayor should be addressing is how to get the officers more money per hour and more manpower to address the growing drug problem. The problem with this town and America right now, is to much government. Now, you have probably placed the town in a legal situation that we cannot afford. Have you ever heard of discrimination?
To ellenb. Way to go girl. Well said. Now, how do we (or you I should say, I live outside as well) get him out of there? Those of you that agree, and want him out, do what you can and join together to get him out. And the rest of the dirty rats in the department as well. There has to be a good man or woman somewhere to take the places of these that can’t or won’t do their jobs. And the ones that do their jobs (so to speak) by taking advantage of the power they so called have. You know who you are don’t you? If you are reading this, you KNOW who you are.
Folks I’d like to say that “it aint over ’til the fat lady sings” but she’s where all this mess started isn’t she? How do you get 12 million in debt with nothing to show for it? How with all your years of business experience have you no idea how to rum our town? What about the employee you fired for trying to talk to you abou all the stuff happening in our police department? You mayor, told me what I needed to buy to clean filthy graffiti from the basketball court @ Hurricane park. I was born & raised in Century, and I have seen what not having it’s own police department has done to Century. We CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO FLOMATON!! WE NEED A POLICE DEPARTMENT!! Mayor when are you going to tell us who you have been borrowing the money from that has been paying the meager salaries of our department for months? I live oustide the city limits, so therefore I have no vote, but Dewey Bondurant needs to be impeached, voted out, whatever it takes. You see Mayor you have enough resources to supply you family with security, we aren’t all so fortunate. We cannot let our town get any worse than it is. There are no jobs, my husband drives almost 2 hrs. one way just to provide for us, and the drugs are already out of control. Folks we have to join together & PRAY, & PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, for our town’s survival.
Thank you “power” for your comment. I am sure that you and I are not the only ones that feel the same way about this man, or has been treated in the same fashion. If Dewey felt this employee needed fired (and if it is who I think it is, I totally agree with recent things that I know to have happened that he did) then Dewey should fire him himself. If Jenkins did not know of anything that he did wrong, he should have been told. And if he was told, and did not agree that he did anything wrong, maybe he was in the wrong as well. I don’t know, because I do not know Mr. Jenkins. Again, I am just saying, if Dewey can hire, and fire, then do it Dewey and stop trying to get someone else to do your work for you. Hang in there Flomaton, justice seems to always prevail at one point of the other.
rukiddingme, I agree with your statement that Dewey has given the impression that he is better than everyone else. Maybe after reading the posts he will be brought to his knees and realize that he is no better or no worse than any of us. Mr Dewey has snubbed his nose at me a few times also.
Dewey has been an odd one every since I have known him. Always thought he was better than anyone else. Guess things don’t change as you get older. Fire Dewey. That is what needs to happen. The town of Flomaton is going to the dogs as far as the police department goes and things of that nature. I guess since they are not paid a decent salary, they think that by being the bad cops and harrasement etc., can make up for that. I would not live there again if you paid me.
Needmoremayberry…
HUD encourages Public Housing Authorities to rent to law enforcement to help maintain order.
PHAs can make special concessions for LEOs.
Thanks for posting the law. Rational thinking requires all the facts. Mayor Bondurant needs to realize this is a democracy and HE needs to post all the facts, like why he believes this police officer needs to be fired…go by law and that will happen.
How can a “handbook”, obviously in this case written without considering the law, be used to justify the legality of anything. It’s just an employee guide. Duh.
Mayor, put up or shut up. You’re burning your bridges
I’m a newcomer to the South. I’ve only lived here 33 years. But may I suggest that the high school get involved with curricula or clubs to educate local teens regarding local government planning, operation, governing law, etc., etc. Let’s get basic in helping to make a better future. Also, is there any racism involved here? There’s that smell in the air.
I think it is time for BONDURANT to go!!!!!!! He don’t own Flomaton!!!!!!!!
What is going through Mayor Bondurant’s mind this morning? Is he sorry he asked the Chief to fire someone for no reason or is he sorry he got caught? No one knows that answer.
In his years in business this makes you wonder how many did he “get rid of for no reason”.
I have always heard the saying what goes around comes around, and you will reap what you sow.
flomatoncitizen made a good point about the four laning of 113. How can city money be used for ANYTHING outside of the city limits? politics, politics, politic!!
And i agree with the majority of the post on this site, it is time for a change. The problem is no one is willing to step up and run for any of these positions. The town is almost 2 million dollars in debt, with no way to pay back one cent of this money. So we continue to accumulate interest on the loans. we have raised water, sewer and garbage rates to make up for the deficit in general funds. Unfortuantely, the only avenue for Flomaton will be bankruptcy at some point. If you have the debt service we have and a general fund income of about $900,000 which has to provide services for fire, police, city hall, parks and recreation, public works, and the library, where is there in money left to pay back a loan. The town borrowed $1 million dollars to help four lane highway 113. remember when we were all lead to believe that the county would cover half. well guess what the county will not. as a matter of fact shortly after this(and you can search on the Alabama Attorney Generals website for an opinion for Escambia County) the AG’s Officer advised them that funds received from taxes on businesses in the county could not be used to pay for an indebtedness on a state highway. then i question, why was the town allowed to pay $ 1 million dollars to pave a highway that only a small portion of is within the town limits. considering they used to municipal funds to pay almost 11 miles of road that is not within the town limits. Until people in this town stand up and realize where we are heading then it will be no use. Other people have run for offices in the past but popularity outweighs politics so we continue on the same old track. But we continue to support our mayor and council, without inquiring or requiring anything of them.
I support Chief Jenkins in anything he does with this situation. He is an excellent example of of police chiefs should be. Chief Jenkins is a great man, wonderful and honest police officer and chief, and a great leader. Not only that he cares about his employees and the people who work beside him which is more than most can say. I can not state my personal opinon on the mayor but i can say the citizens elected him and if the citizens want change do something about it. Take a stand and let your voices be heard!
Until y’all get rid of the Mayor, Flomaton want ever be nothing
Ok mayor here is the law on the disciplinary hearing.
Section 11-43-230
Predisciplinary hearing prior to suspension or termination; procedures; postdisciplinary hearing.
(a) Every municipality shall provide a predisciplinary hearing prior to the suspension or termination of its law enforcement officers, provided nothing herein shall preclude a municipality from placing a law enforcement officer on leave with pay until the person or body holding the hearing has made its decision in the matter.
Section 11-43-231
“Law enforcement officer” defined.
As used in this article, the term “law enforcement officer” shall mean an official who is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission who has authority to make arrests and who is employed by any municipality in the state as a permanent and regular employee with law enforcement duties, including police chiefs and deputy police chiefs. The term does not include any person elected by popular vote, any person who is serving a probationary period of employment, or any person whose term of office has expired.
(Act 2001-463, p. 617, §2.)
note that if he was on probation he is not covered by this statue. however, he should be restored to his previous position as a police officer since he was promoted and i assume you would be demoting him for failure to follow a directive from you. just a thought….
I know I’ve already posted this once, but I really feel the need to post it again-
We (the town and my husband and I ) support you Chief Jenkins! I really hope he gets to read all of these comments from people supporting him. He is a really kind man, a great officer, and a good person all around. We’ve only spoken to you a couple of times (once was for a downed power line and the others about classic cars) but we really think a lot of you! Hold your head up! You have a lot of people behind you on this!
JUST A THOUGHT has it right……all of flomaton citizens need to utilize their right to vote….pleading w/the mayor and the chief to just get along…well….dont hold your breath…what are the qualifications for being a “mayor”?..isnt there any one else in flomaton that could step up to the plate and commit themselves to working cohesively for the benefit of the good citizens of flomaton? maybe there is a woman out there that would do a great job and clean house!
i work offshore and in june i witnessed a flomaton police car on i65 doing well over 90 mph i was doing 80 and he passed me like i was sitting still. he didnt have any lights on and it looked to me as if he was just speeding to be speeding. i live in flomaton and later identified the car as number 293. its the only car that flomaton has with the kind of decals on that make. its a little sad how that little young officer was and is abusing the power givin to him. it wasnt jenkins though but im sure it was the one that the mayor is asking to get rid of. Its about time FPD gets there stuff together and starts getting back to the basics. atleast they got rid of one of the bad apples already. need to get rid of the one living in low income housing now. i understand that they dont make alot but they make enough to pay rent somewhere like everone else. just saying..
All you folks not liking and wanting to get rid of BOSS HOG should think about all of the good things he has done for the town—like—-uh—–uh—uh–can I get back with you later on that.
I support Jenkins. He has been a great chief. I have never heard a complaint against him. He does his job, he is friendly and he is fair. Anyone that I have talked to has nothing but good words about him. We finally get a chief we can depend on, and the Mayor wants to run him out of a job.
I do not live in Flomaton but…….isn’t the position of MAYOR an ELECTED position?? If so next time the election comes around vote him OUT and vote in someone new. And if you dont vote you don’t have the right to complain.
I do not have a dog in this fight but it sounds to me like the Mayor may be forgetting who he works for. Mr. Mayor just in case you are reading this and I hope you are “You work for us the people”, not for your ego. School yard bulliing will get you out of office very quickly. If I were you I would re-evaluate what you are doing here and remind yourself of what your oath is. Just saying!
Mr Green, that was a very good point and one the Mayor of Flomaton needs to read. If the Police Chief is not doing his job the way it should be doing, then fire him. Don’t fire him because he won’t fire someone that you won’t or can’t fire yourself. Mr Mayor rethink things, the people of Flomaton seem to be wanting the Chief to stay.
I was watching the TV show, Blue Bloods, the other week and they had an episode in which the mayor tells the chief of police (or police commissioner, whatever Tom Selleck is in the show) to do something.
Selleck refuses.
“Remember you work for me.”
“I work for the people of the city. I serve at your pleasure.”
The meaning was you can fire me, you can’t tell me what to do.
Just a thought.
As a teenager in the town, I feel that we need one chief for more than six months. Chief Jenkins has done a wonderful job, doing what his job is. I have seen numerous mornings him sitting in the school parking lot or out by the road monitoring the speed of traffic keeping us kids safe. I couldn’t ask for anyone better right now. The only problem I have the the police department is that some officers find it necessary to speed up and down palafox st. without sirens or lights but that is a different situation, since a lot of people all ready do that. But, ever since Mr. Bondurant has been mayor, I have seen nothing but money being thrown around. Yes, some of it was for a good cause but our offices, the ones who protect us on a daily basis need to be paid right. They put their life on the line everyday to come home making very little. It isn’t right for them. It’s time for a new mayor and a change. Shoot, Chief Jenkins for mayor.
Having lived in Flomaton for many years, I know the town council meeting disagreements have become great local news. I do not however support a mayor who will continue to plague our town with continued discontentment.
Please let officer Jenkins and his staff do their job. While there is always room for improvement, we are a small town and Chief Jenkins has done a great job for Flomaton.
I have no cat in this fight, but this is small town politics at it’s finest. It happens in all the smaller towns surrounding us, the closer to city hall you get ,the worse things smell.
WOW,, By listening to alot of the citizens of Flomaton and there pleausure with the Chief and the Displeasure of the Mayor…..Shouldnt U guys call for a Resignation,After all the Mayor is supposed to work for the Citizens or am I missing something
Jenkins is a great chief, I would hate to see him pushed out like all the others. He is fair, friendly and loyal. Hang in there Jenkins!!!!
I am so tired of bondurant and will be glad for him to not be mayor any more. If he wants someone fired he should do it himself and stop getting others to do it for him. He shouldn’t fire the chief because he wouldn’t fire someone that didn’t do anything wrong. To me the mayor isn’t doing anything for this town besides making alot of people mad because of his decisions. I think he should step down as mayor or someone should fire him cause he is not well liked by me and sure by others also.
If your boss tells you fire someone and they haven’t done anything wrong……..that DOESN’T seem right to me. Does the Good Mayor Bondurant fire everyone he doens’t like? The People of Flomaton also have the right to elect the mayor of their choice……….is that considered getting fired by the people?
In any job,you do what your boss tells you to do,or you hit the road.
The mayor can only fire the chief. He can not fire a merrit employee. The mayor has always had a big “power trip” problem. Doesn’t seem that much has changed.
I think if someone takes the time to look into the background of the “police officer in question”, the REST of the story might bring some additional light to this situation.
From what I”m getting by reading some of the post…..If mayor Bondurant doesn’t get his way he picks up his marbles to go home but takes a detour and trys to get someone else to do his firing……take a look at his business and ask yourself this question how many did he fire for no reason?. A town is like a business, you need hard working dependable staff working for you.
sounds like “too many chiefs and not enough indians”. and it also seems more like a power struggle than a balance of power….
@ justsayin
If things continue on this path you will not have to worry about needing their help it will be the Sheriff’s Office you will be depending on. I think they have done well with the hand that has been dealt.
i live n flomaton and so far chief jenkins is the best that we have and had. not only is he chief but he is his own adminstrative assistant, majoristy, and patrolman and is paid less than his officers! every since mike lambert resigned there has been a 6 mouth tunover with the chief’s position. this has got 2 stop. i dont think its the past chiefs its the one thats suppose 2 be running the town. every since jenkins took over the, 3 positions above has been open and never been fill and his doing it all and you want 2 fire him and hes being a fool saving the town money and hes not getting paid for the position he holds in front of his name. and the town of flomaton is suppose 2 be broke??? whose fault is that??i think the mayor! HELP SUPPORT OUR CHIEF! he stood up for his officer and what was right now thats the type of leadership we need!!!!!!
Well if they go by the employe handbook the major can hire and fire at will,with no reason.The employes need to read it.So maybe they need to start there,make some changes.The Police department needs some Leaders who are not afraid to do their job.We don’t even know the officers anymore.They change so fast.How are the Flomaton Citizens going to build trust with a police department,they don’t know.It’s a sad thing,i hope and pray i never need their help.
I GOT AN IDEA……………. LETS GET RID OF BONDURANT AND SEE HOW HE LIKE THOSE APPLES. LETS GET RID OF HIM FOR NO REASON…….. SINCE HE THINKS IT O.K. TO FIRE SOMEONE FOR NO REASON. SINCE HE CAN’T HADLE HIS BUSINESS PROPERLY LETS HADLE IT FOR HIM AND GET RID OF HIM. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING HE AINT NOTHING BUT A SNAKE IN THE GRASS ANYWAY. THATS HOW PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY THINK THEY GOT AUTHORITY OVER EVERYBODY. JENKINS HOLD UR HEAD UP DONT LET BONDURANT AND NOBODY ELSE WALK OVER U.. HE PROBABLY TRYING TO GET SOME OF HIS PEPOLE IN AS CHIEF. BUT IN THE LONG RUN HE WILL REEP WHAT HE HAS SEWN. BONDURANT THINK HE IS DOING SOMETHING NOW BECAUSE HE IS MAYOR BUT IT WILL ALL COME BACK TO SLAP HIM IN THE FACE LATER.
@Alex
I don’t think this article is about harassment. I think it is about time someone told what happens. The past two Chiefs that were there left and the stories given as to why were very vauge but notice that the Mayor had hands in all of it. It smells fishy to me.
There are alot of Flomaton police officers that harass people. I would say that is very uncalled for.
Not saying he is right or wrong and not taking sides either way, but the mayor is not the only one to blame for the downfall of the police department or changes in chiefs over the past couple years. There are a few councilmen who played a major role in this too. It will be interesting next Monday night to hear all the facts on the events that led to this decision by the mayor and then we can all determine whether he was right or wrong. But as I said before, he’s not the only one to blame in this situation.
I thought Century was bad !!! Flomaton Mayor is a back stabing two face ! Thats right,,,,, just up and fire someone !!!! The Mayor must have someone else for this Job as always.. Jenkins has done a very good job better that the last few Flomaton has had. Do what you have to Jenkins good luck
Did the mayor hire him? If not,then how can the mayor fire him?
Sounds more like a problem with the Mayor then the previous chiefs. WOW, I don’t think I have EVER heard of so many overs in such a short time.
If Mayor Bondurant says he has the power to fire……….why didn’t he fire the employee and not ask Chier Jenkins to do it for him?????
it appears that Mayor Bondurant doesn’t have the “power” over the town that he thought he had.
He is used to having his “yes” men in business but the people of Flomaton are speaking up for what they believe in and not just being a yes team…..
Thank you council members for not being the yes man again without checking the facts first.
Kevin’s comments are spot on! I am a former resident of Flomaton, and I have an acquaintance who is now employed by the Esc. Co. Sheriff’s office. He worked as a Flomaton police officer. I was SHOCKED when I learned how little they are paid. With all of the drug activity in Flomaton, these men and women are absolutely asked to put their life on the line…and for such a small wage. Flomaton had better get her act together before it is too late!
Your FIRED Dewey, you can pack your things up and turn them into to me!
Until you quit paying these guys $ 3.50 an hour you are going to get the kind of turnover you have been getting. All the Mayor wants is a yes man…Stand your ground Chief Jenkins.
I have worked under Dewey Bondurant and there is nothing wrong with the “multiple” chiefs at FPD. The only problem with FPD is the mayor! I think it is time that the mayor was “let go” he is doing more harm than good at Flomaton!
Notice how every chief in the past two years or so has lasted only at the most six months and they all quit. When really and truthfully we all know the truth they are forced to resign or they are fired. Jenkins did not quit he was fired by the mayor. Maybe its not the police department or the chiefs maybe just maybe its the mayor that is the problem. I think its time to get that mayor out of office and have a town and a police department that prosper.
well lets see here f.p.d has been involved in several harrasment issue’s including but not limited to verbal and sexual for instance i know of one individual that was arrested after standing his ground with a f.p.d officer even though he had already been warned by bondurant it had even been reported to the dispatcher prior to the incedent.this individual was even told by bondurant that he would deal with the problem in a phone conversation.and i know of at least 2 of the town council members that knew of the problem.
we support you chief jenkins!