Police Chief Gets Heave-Ho
Citing conflicts between Police Chief Jeff Alexander and City Hall employees, the Spirit Lake City Council on Thursday fired Alexander.
“The police department’s attitude and overall concept must be changed,” Mayor Bob Knapp said.
The contentious meeting started with a prayer for wisdom, but ended with angry citizens vowing to recall Knapp - only three weeks into his term - and the mayor daring them to do it.
“I was told today that he’s going to be the shortest-term mayor we ever had,” said Councilman-elect Don Stout. Spirit Lake has had four mayors this year.
Knapp said the three-man police department must “treat neighbors like neighbors,” and get tougher on drugs. He said the town’s 790 residents still have a police department, just not a chief.
Police calls will be forwarded to the mayor.
The move was approved 3-0, with Councilman Jeff Brown abstaining.
As council members voted, the 50-person crowd began protesting.
“This is not up for debate,” the mayor said.
He was peppered with protests.
The mayor defended his proposal, arguing with the crowd.
“We can take you out as easy as we put you in!” one woman warned Knapp.
“Do it. If you think you can do it, go ahead!” he said.”We’re just bringing unity to the city,” he said.
The night’s events brought a sense of deja vu to some citizens. In 1984, then-mayor Jim Wilson disbanded the city’s police department. The ensuing criticism ended with his recall, 164 votes to 123, six months later.
Some citizens Thursday vowed to repeat history - picketing of City Hall and circulating petitions.
“This is going to be very hotly contested in this town,” predicted former planning commission member Curtis Miller.
Standing in the rain after the meeting, Alexander held a box of monthly reports from his two years in office.
“I didn’t get a chance to show them,” he said.
He said the only friction with City Hall revolved around the investigation of former Mayor Paul Korman, under state investigation for alleged misuse of funds.
, DataTimes