Police chief left on edge Options

[Lancaster Online]

[Kate]

Boo Hoo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol_crying.gif)

[Artie See]

Chief Heim seems to be doing a good job, although he has worked with former mayor Charlie Smithgall to distort the "community policing" program beyond recognition. In person he is a nice guy, and seems sincere. I can't comment on how well he gets along with his own officers.

Jack Howell of the Lancaster Alliance is nothing more than a mouthpiece for Lancaster's elite. His opinions and actions generally do not accurately represent the working people of Lancaster. He has said some things at LCCCA board meetings that don't come anywhere close to reality.

Chuck Maneval is a good man. I'll be sorry to see him go.

Matt Parido is in way over his head. Usually when he has been asked a direct question, he's not been able to answer. Fortunately, Carol Rowland can usually answer for him.

Carol Rowland is a sharp lady, her issue is that she hitched her wagon too closely to Charlie Smithgall's. I've been able to literally make her speechless when reality doesn't align with Charlie Smithgall's version.

Patrick Hopkins is one intelligent individual. He's one of the few that can adequately understand and question many of Smithgall's financial manipulations.

Charlotte Katzenmoyer has done an outstanding job with Public Works, although her efforts to create the "Central Market Trust" could very well come back to haunt her.

I recognize that each one of these individuals really cares about Lancaster, and all have done what they believe is the best for the people of Lancaster. So here is a big Thank You! to Chief Heim, Chuck Maneval, Matt Parido, Carol Rowland, Darcy Eddy, Charlotte Katzenmoyer, Janet Spleen, Steve Diamantoni, Gene Duncan, Harry Stoltzfus, Luis Mendoza, and yes even Charlie Smithgall. The people of Lancaster City appreciate your efforts, even when many of us did not agree with you. We know you all tried to do your best.

[Artie See]

I need to add Barry and Mike Winterstein, and R.B. Campbell. They deserve an extra special Thank You! in light of all of the abuse they've received over the past few years, standing up for what they believe is right in the face of blind opposition from people in their own party.

[Glad2bgone]

If Matt Parido is in over his head, it may be because his previous job training was as a bartender. I personally believe that many of the problems with the LCP either began with Chief Heim, or at least have been ignored by him. How many pending lawsuits for police misconduct? He was booted out of Reading; maybe he and Charlie can write 3rd-rate novels together.

[vfw4dubya]

GOOD BUY CHIEF HITLER!!!!!! Can't say I am sorry to see you go!!!! again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[WGM1171]

Two will stay... The rest will go!!!

[littledutchboy]

I

f Heim is fired as a result of a political transition, it won't be the first time. He was fired in Reading when a new mayor took office.

Getting fired from Reading was the best thing that ever happened to this guy, Have you seen Reading's crime stats? YIKES(IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)




This post has been edited by littledutchboy: Dec 25 2005, 11:24 AM

[Enlightened]

You can't have it both ways chief...if you not only campaign for the other guy but badmouth his opponent as well, you are stuck with the consequences when you choose the wrong horse.

Adios.

This should be a no-brainer for Gray. Too bad he can't fire Totoro too and for that matter, Howell as well.

Maybe Heim can find some other moronic, narrow-minded, loud-mouth mayor to suck up to in another community and be their police chief.

As for Parido and Maneval, GOOD RIDDANCE. Regardless of who hired them, they have both been molded in the mind-set of their soon-to-be former boss and need to go. They are part of the problem, not the solution. Maybe, just maybe, their blind loyalty toward the CC project will be rewarded with employment by one of the PSPs.

This post has been edited by Enlightened: Dec 25 2005, 12:01 PM

[RonHarper]

You can't have it both ways chief...if you not only campaign for the other guy but badmouth his opponent as well, you are stuck with the consequences when you choose the wrong horse.

Adios.

Wow... never truer words spoken.

But look at it this way -Heim is so easily manipulated that under Gray he might become a good police chief!

rh

[electricbender]

67-2. Chief of Police. A.The direction, supervision and control of the Bureau of Police shall be vested in a Chief of Police who shall be one trained and experienced in police work. He shall act under the direction of the Mayor and/or the Director of Public Safety. He shall not be regarded as a member of the police force within the provisions of this article and other ordinances which apply to the Bureau, unless specifically included. He shall be deemed to exercise authority over the execution of grave public duties and shall, therefore, hold office at the pleasure of the Mayor. B.The Chief shall be selected and appointed by the Mayor, by and with the consent of the Council. C.The title "Chief of Police," wherever used in this article, shall be deemed to mean either Chief of Police or Commissioner of Police.

This post has been edited by electricbender: Dec 25 2005, 01:25 PM

[Guest_MrBig_*]

On the edge and ready to fall off hard. What this town needs is a police chief who has came through the ranks , and has respect from his officers who follow him.

Heim was only in the Lancaster Job to promote himself to move on to another job ( I hear the Easton is looking for a chief)

As the chief he did not stop the discrimination within the department and had several minority officers either quit or had them fired because they complained about being discriminated against.

During his term he let white officers who were charged with crimes remain on the the job. He demoted a Sargent who stalked a female officer (Stalking is a crime) Another white officer who made threats to his family (reporter in the news)

These officers remain.

Then lets look at the minority officers that were forced out or fired. Heim during his time it seemed made this his mission, and he was allowed to do this by Mr. Smithgall.

I would hope that the new city council and the Mayor looks into this.

What this town needs is a chief who has came up through the ranks of the police department and either Palmer or Gatchell would be good for this city.

To Mr. Gray, Kick Heim OUT.

[Chetnik]

Na, na, na , na.....Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, hey. Goodbye!



Maybe Boss Hogg will rehire him as a gun salesman at the Drug Store/Armory.

[ReaganRepublican]

On the edge and ready to fall off hard. What this town needs is a police chief who has came through the ranks , and has respect from his officers who follow him.

I disagree.

There are two issues here. One is political, and I doubt Heim will stay. Gray will put in his own Chief to adjust the "culture" to his liking.

The other issue is performance and value from the Police Department to the citizens of Lancaster. Appointing a new Chief from within the ranks of the LPD would be good for the Police union, and their members, and probably morale ... but it most likely would not be good for the citizens as a Chief hired from within has friends, skeletons, and favors owed.

Regardless of who the new mayor chooses, it will be a qualified Police administrator who has come up through the ranks, just not the ranks of the LPD.

[citydweller]

Heim needs to go. He was Charlie's boy and proved it over and over again. A new chief should not come from within the ranks, waaaay to much baggage will come along with any candidate on the force, no matter what their service record is. Let's just hope Rick finds a person of character with a good record who isn't looking for a new job because they were fired.

Chuck Maneval is an extremely nice and likeable guy. Unfortunately that's also his only qualification. He's been completely impotent under two administrations, and I suspect that Charlie kept him on after Stork for that very reason. Charlie always wanted the spotlight, especially in the area of development, and having an agressive and competant development director would have taken that spotlight away. Sorry Chuck, but you should have been gone long ago.

Perido = lap dog. Enough said there.

Darcy's canning is a mystery to me. She's been the mayor's secretary forever, serving democrats and republicans without (mostly) taking any sides. I dealt with her working under both Stork and Smithgall and always thought she did an amazing job directing traffic through the mayor's office, a job that can be quite a challenge on even an average day. I really hope Rick's team knows what they're doing on this one, because Darcy's been city hall's "Radar O'Reilly" for 12 years and just training someone to know everything she does could take 4 years. I for one am sorry to see her go.

What I haven't seen anyone write about is the greatest removal from city hall of all - NO MORE JESSE YESCALIS!!! No longer will we have an underhanded slimebag "consultant" pulling strings in city hall to manipulate the workings of government to promote his warped "republican" agenda. Jesse its time for you to find another weak community to prey on, hopefully one far far away from here. Arizona, Hawaii and Pennsylvania don't want you, so you only have 47 states to go. So long, sleazeball!

I only hope that Rick has paid enough attention to Jesse's antics to remember that political "consultants" and spin gurus have no place in day-to-day government. They operate in perpetual "campaign mode" and see hidden threats in every shadow, always preparing for the next election and manipulating whoever/whatever they have to to keep the spin they way they want it. Rick, your spin guru did a great job this campaign, but PLEASE advise "he or she" to go back to their day job until the next campaign.

Should be an interesting January

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)