Three of the last three police chiefs in Peachtree City have resigned under less than admirable conditions.
The last three chiefs were as follows:
Murray: Resigned after adult sex chatting on his office computer came to light.
Clark: Resigned after the EEOC determined he discriminated against a female employee suffering chronic illness, and then intimidated two police captains who tried to defend her. Were not those captains among those who were later downsized?
McCollom: Resigned after the DA announced he would seek an indictment for reckless conduct following a GBI report determining McCollom accidentally shot his significant other in a sleepy state. He had consumed alcohol and sleep aids prior to the shooting.
I have done only a little hiring. Never have I shouldered the responsibility for hiring a police officer – much less a “top cop” – someone who bears responsibility for protecting both the public safety and individual civil liberties.
That noted, I offer the following: Perhaps the city manager and council would be wise to reevaluate how they are screening candidates for the job.
That’s my main point and I hope it’s not lost in the following specific suggestion.
Each of the previous chief were external hires – maybe, just maybe – the next chief should be someone who has served within the department, someone with a long track record.
I have heard dogged proponents of those who advise hiring externally – better to get a fresh perspective and new blood. And, I have heard those who favor hiring internally – better to promote a tested and known person who knows how the organization already works.
Which side of the spectrum I lean towards has depended over the years on whether I was an internal or external applicant myself for a given position at the time. I think most of us hold the “best person for the job,” view whether hired internally or externally.
In Peachtree City’s case, I fall back on, “If you want to keep getting what you’ve gotten, keep doing what you’re doing.” Perhaps external applicants cannot be vetted as rigorously. Perhaps external applicants seem more appealing because, as something of an unknown, they appear fresh and exciting.
Champion stock picker Peter Lynch with Fidelity mutual funds wrote about the seduction of the sexy sounding tech stock you catch wind of at a cocktail party over the tried and tested company you’ve heard of and already know about. Lynch made money in companies he knew.
Perhaps you really cannot screen out men and women prone to make the kind of errors made by the previous chiefs. I suspect in at least two of the chiefs’ cases hubris played a large role in their professional demise. Only God knows the heart.
Still, if decision makers take into account the city’s experience with the last three external hires, I am not sticking my neck out too far in suggesting giving internal candidates greater consideration this time.
Two names come readily to mind as possible future chiefs from within the department currently: Acting Chief, Captain Stan Pye and Sergeant Odilia Bergh. Capt. Pye has been with the department for more than 20 years. Sgt. Bergh has shown her capability with public relations and as a school resource officer.
For the record, I have had only limited interaction with either of them over the years, but all of it positive. While I know neither well enough to endorse their bids, should they seek the job, each has a record which can be investigated thoroughly. Public hearings could in fact be used as a means of gathering information. In the case of Captain Pye, you can probably find some “kids” he busted for underage drinking who now have teens of their own in Peachtree City.
And, both Pye and Bergh have served under three chiefs, and seen their mistakes. Hopefully whoever comes next – from outside or within the department – will have learned from his or her predecessors.
Alternately, if internal candidates have been offered the position and are turning it down, I would interpret that as a signal that civilian leadership needs to do a better job in supporting the department.
Meanwhile, I continue to express my appreciation to the men and women of law enforcement tasked with doing a dangerous job for far less pay than the value they provide.
Note: I have lived and/or worked in Peachtree City for more than 20 years. Both my parents and my wife’s mom live there, which means our little daughter spends a great deal of time there visiting her grandparents. Our church is in Peachtree City. We shop and relax there under the protection of the police, and the sales tax from our purchases there generate tax revenue which supports them. In short, I and the people I care most about – my family – have skin in the game in who next leads the Peachtree City Police.
Eric Ferrell
Sharpsburg, Ga.
