Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 26, 2006 11:46:45 GMT -5
03/26/2006 - WILTON, Iowa — In short order, the Wilton City Council accepted the resignation of the city’s police chief and reinstated a suspended police officer.
During a brief, but well-attended, special meeting Friday night, City Council members unanimously accepted Steven Mallinger’s resignation as chief of police.
Council member Ted Glenney accepted the resignation “with regret.”
Although the council chambers were filled and many stood in the doorway, Mayor Dick Summy announced he would not allow public comment during the meeting, inviting the crowd of nearly 40 people to attend Monday night’s regularly scheduled council meeting instead.
Assistant Chief Scott Layne was appointed the town’s interim police chief. Summy said Wilton will begin advertising immediately for a new police chief. Mallinger, who served the community for 4½ years, did not attend the meeting.
The council also determined that officer Todd Jansen would be reinstated effective Saturday, following an 11-day unpaid suspension.
Jansen was placed on unpaid administrative leave by Summy on March 14, two days after he arrested three men on public intoxication charges. In the interim, the city’s Public Safety Committee worked to determine whether Jansen applied excessive force when he used pepper spray on one of the subjects.
Summy said the committee, of which he is a member, determined that Jansen should receive back pay for six of the 11 days because he was on employment probation at the time of the incident.
Jansen has been with the department one year as a full-time commissioned officer.
Summy also advised the council and the audience that Jansen will have an additional six months of employment probation, extending the period to Jan. 16. The committee also determined that Jansen will have to take anger management classes and that a letter of reprimand will be added to his personnel file.
Jansen was not present at the meeting. However, he and his attorney indicated to Wilton City Attorney Jerry Denning that he wished for the matter to be discussed in an open meeting.
A majority of the council voted to accept the committee’s recommendations regarding the reinstatement and reprimand of Jansen, with council member Keith Stanley abstaining.
On Dec. 30, Jansen stopped Stanley for an equipment violation. Police records show that when Jansen realized Stanley was a city official, the officer contacted the Iowa State Patrol, which later charged Stanley with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The case is pending.
Although residents were not permitted to voice their opinions inside council chambers, several did so outside after the meeting. The crowd’s opinion was divided.
Family members and friends of the subjects arrested for public intoxication March 12 also spoke against Jansen’s reinstatement.
Matt Driscoll, 27, of rural Cedar County, was present, but he declined comment. Jansen told the Public Safety Committee he had used pepper spray on Driscoll for disobeying lawful orders and resisting arrest.
Wilton resident Teri Carson spoke in favor of Jansen’s return to the department. “I don’t like what the City Council has been doing to the police department over the past year. It’s unfair and it’s one-sided,” she said.
During a brief, but well-attended, special meeting Friday night, City Council members unanimously accepted Steven Mallinger’s resignation as chief of police.
Council member Ted Glenney accepted the resignation “with regret.”
Although the council chambers were filled and many stood in the doorway, Mayor Dick Summy announced he would not allow public comment during the meeting, inviting the crowd of nearly 40 people to attend Monday night’s regularly scheduled council meeting instead.
Assistant Chief Scott Layne was appointed the town’s interim police chief. Summy said Wilton will begin advertising immediately for a new police chief. Mallinger, who served the community for 4½ years, did not attend the meeting.
The council also determined that officer Todd Jansen would be reinstated effective Saturday, following an 11-day unpaid suspension.
Jansen was placed on unpaid administrative leave by Summy on March 14, two days after he arrested three men on public intoxication charges. In the interim, the city’s Public Safety Committee worked to determine whether Jansen applied excessive force when he used pepper spray on one of the subjects.
Summy said the committee, of which he is a member, determined that Jansen should receive back pay for six of the 11 days because he was on employment probation at the time of the incident.
Jansen has been with the department one year as a full-time commissioned officer.
Summy also advised the council and the audience that Jansen will have an additional six months of employment probation, extending the period to Jan. 16. The committee also determined that Jansen will have to take anger management classes and that a letter of reprimand will be added to his personnel file.
Jansen was not present at the meeting. However, he and his attorney indicated to Wilton City Attorney Jerry Denning that he wished for the matter to be discussed in an open meeting.
A majority of the council voted to accept the committee’s recommendations regarding the reinstatement and reprimand of Jansen, with council member Keith Stanley abstaining.
On Dec. 30, Jansen stopped Stanley for an equipment violation. Police records show that when Jansen realized Stanley was a city official, the officer contacted the Iowa State Patrol, which later charged Stanley with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The case is pending.
Although residents were not permitted to voice their opinions inside council chambers, several did so outside after the meeting. The crowd’s opinion was divided.
Family members and friends of the subjects arrested for public intoxication March 12 also spoke against Jansen’s reinstatement.
Matt Driscoll, 27, of rural Cedar County, was present, but he declined comment. Jansen told the Public Safety Committee he had used pepper spray on Driscoll for disobeying lawful orders and resisting arrest.
Wilton resident Teri Carson spoke in favor of Jansen’s return to the department. “I don’t like what the City Council has been doing to the police department over the past year. It’s unfair and it’s one-sided,” she said.