© 2011 by Hugh Martin - All rights reserved
CANDOR – Following last week’s termination of 80 percent of the Candor Police Department, led by just-sworn Commissioner Wayne Holyfield, many citizens of the town have expressed worries about the lack of police protection.
Monday evening, Candor had the best police protection in Montgomery County with more than fifteen officers of the county sheriff’s department present for what could possibly be the largest turnout for a board of commissioners meeting in the town’s history.
There were lots of questions asked, but very few answers given during the public forum segment of the special called meeting of the Candor Board of Commissioners.
The meeting was called by Commissioner Wayne Holyfield for the purpose of the discussion of police personnel. The request for a public forum was made by Commissioner Layton Booker.
Because of the expectation of a large turnout of citizens the meeting was held in the gymnasium of Candor Elementary School. An estimated crowd of 300 filled the majority of the available seating.
Mayor Richard Britt opened the meeting with a statement that was followed by applause from the majority of those in attendance. “My responsibility is to make sure that public safety is maintained, Britt said. “With that in mind, I have relieved Commissioner Wayne Holyfield as advisor to the police department.”
Britt said that those duties would temporarily be under his control.
Holyfield was appointed commissioner in charge of the police department by Mayor Richard Britt at the regular meeting on December 12. Holyfield’s first action was to call for a closed session. Following the closed session Holyfield made a motion that four of the five full-time officers of the department be terminated immediately.
That motion passed 3-2 with commissioners Tim Privett and Rob Martin joining Holyfield for the vote for termination of the officers.
Those officers were present at the special meeting, accompanied by attorney Arthur Donadio of Southern Pines who advised the officers not to make any statements at this time.
Britt stated that each person speaking could “express their feelings” and questions would be answered by commissioners “as they please. We want to answer your questions if possible.”
Frank Harris of Candor was the first to speak during the public forum.
Harris said he was speaking for “himself and a multitude of irate citizens. We want our police force back in its entirety,” he said. “We would like to have the resignations of Wayne Holyfield, Rob Martin and Tim Privett. We don’t feel that they are acting in the best interest of Candor”
Harris said that he has known Britt and Privett for a long time. “Boys, I’m disappointed at you,” he said. “I’ve always admired and respected you, but to allow something like this to happen in this small town over a small thing as a traffic ticket is outrageous.”
Harris was referring to a 2009 traffic stop in which Candor Police Officer Grant Jackson issued a warning ticket to Teresa Lamonds of Candor. Records at Montgomery County Board of Elections show that Lamonds and her husband, John, made in-kind donations to the campaigns of Holyfield and Martin.
Becky Williams, who was a town commissioner and Mayor of Candor for a combined 38 years asked why the code of ethics was not read prior to the start of the meeting. The code states that any commissioner having a conflict of interest, state so before the meeting begins.
“It was overlooked,” replied Town Clerk Tammy Kellis.
Williams asked that it be read before she began speaking. Kellis complied.
“Does anyone speak to that?” Williams asked the board. There was no response.
“I would like to go on the record as challenging board members Tim Privett, Rob Martin and Wayne Holyfield for the code of conduct and ethics for violations.”
Williams said that she regretted that Britt had not relieved Holyfield of his police commissioner duties at the last meeting.
“Were there any problems or complaints with merit against any of these police officers before December 12 of this year?” Williams asked. There was no response.
“Were Commissioner Martin and Commissioner Holyfield given the Code of Ethics manual and Personnel Policy before that meeting December 12?” Williams asked.
“I haven’t been given anything,” Martin replied.
“But you took actions in lieu of the fact that you didn’t know?” she asked. Martin nodded in the affirmative.
Williams stated that in her time on the board and as mayor that she knew that it was very difficult to fire a police officer.
“We’ve had plenty of bad ones here,” she said. “But these four officers are not the bad ones.”
Williams said that, prior to 2009, she had only had to sit down with the police commissioner and chief of police a couple of times to discuss complaints.
“If you haven’t had those complaints, what happened?” she asked. “These are questions that I am asking to be answered.”
Williams said that the board had “grossly disregarded” the town’s policies on ethics and personnel.
“This is a comedy of errors. You have thrown parliamentary procedure, Robert’s Rule of Order, your Code of Ethics and your personnel policy out the window.” Williams said. “Rob Martin, Wayne Holyfield, you are protected by personnel policy, Rob, you as an employee with the Department of Corrections, Wayne, you as an employee with the State Highway Patrol, but you see fit not to protect these four officers that have done nothing.”
Williams said that she agreed with Harris. “You three need to resign.”
Former commissioner Tim Smith speaking next, requested that, in future board meetings, if a non-agenda item is brought up by the board that the public be allowed to speak. “You can’t sign up if you don’t know what’s going to be talked about,” he said.
Smith said that actions were made on behalf of the town by the new board members, without the knowledge of the sitting board, before they were sworn in.
Smith asked the three commissioners who had voted for the termination, “Was this pre-arranged before the board meeting last Monday night?”
Smith then asked Britt, “Were you aware that this action was going to be taken prior to the meeting last Monday night?”
“Does any board member want to respond to that?” Britt asked the board.
There was no response.
Doug Kemp, representing Klaussner Furniture, expressed their concern about the lack of police protection on behalf of the “350 plus employees and the multi-million dollar investment” that the corporation has in Candor.
Britt assured Kemp and other business owners that Candor is covered 24 hours a day.
Judy Cole of Biscoe praised Commissioner Holyfield for the work that he does as a NC Highway Patrolman. She said that she had never heard of anyone saying that he had disrespected them or felt threatened by him.
“I have heard that about some of these officers that have been dismissed,” she said. “It saddens me that these people are not here tonight to tell their stories. I do have my own personal story against Office Pierce but I’m not going to tell that tonight.”
Rebecca Shepherd of Candor asked that the four officers be reinstated to the department with full benefits and without prejudice.
Lawrence Lamonds, a member of the town’s planning board, tendered his resignation from that board. “I honestly don’t want to be associated with this,” he told the commissioners.
Pedro Garcia, who said that he has lived in Candor for 15 years, told commissioners that people were afraid of the police department. He related a story of being involved in an automobile accident in 2006 and being treated with disrespect. He said that the officer tried to help the driver of the other car and when he later went to the department for a copy of the accident report was told that it was lost.
“The police are not for everybody,” Garcia said. “Let’s work with justice for everybody.”
Irving Brown, attorney for John and Teresa Lamonds, had signed up to speak but passed when his turn came.
Carolyn Blue, owner of Candor Oil Company, praised the service that she has received from the Candor Police Department. “I feel real comfortable that these police cars are up and down the road,” she said. “I recommend them highly.”
Pam Carter of Jackson Springs said that she is saddened that the Candor officers had posted negative comments on Facebook. “It’s embarrassing to me to have friends in Moore County talking about the things that have been said about my brother, the mayor, Richard Britt, and the other commissioners on Facebook.”
Carter said that those who posted the comments should apologize.
“I have proof that they’ve done it because I have printouts at my house that people have given me.”
Carter suggested that it should be added to town policy that employees need to be more professional.
Britt then asked the board members if they had any comments.
Phillip Hearne said that he would like to respond to Becky Williams’ questions.
Hearne went on to say that he had many of the same questions that former commissioner Smith had asked. He said that he agreed with Rebecca Shepherd that the officers should be reinstated.
“I come here tonight not only as a board member but as a citizen of Candor and I would just like to know the reason why, and I haven’t gotten it yet. I hope I get it before I leave tonight.”
Hearne said that prior to the December 12 meeting that he had been told that he would be reappointed as Fire Commissioner and that Booker had been the Police Commissioner.
“We didn’t have any problems with the police department, so Mayor, I’d like to know why Commissioner Booker was removed from being the Police Commissioner?” he asked.
Britt said that the businesses and citizens had been covered since December 12 twenty-four hours a day and they will continue to be covered until the force is rebuilt.
“That was denied twice,” he said. “As we have seen already it was a conflict of interest.”
“I’m going to make an open statement before I refuse to answer any questions,” Holyfield said when it was his turn to speak.
“I want to take this opportunity to assure the citizens of Candor that our town will move forward, and that it will continue to be protected as the Candor Police Department is rebuilt.”
“Since North Carolina is an at-will state and this is dealing with personnel, I don’t have to give a reason.”
Holyfield wished the four terminated officers his best in their future endeavors.
“At this time I think that it’s important that we remain positive and work together to strengthen our community to make Candor a safer place for our children and citizens,” Holyfield said. ”Change is not easy, and for those who only want to live in the past or present will never see the future.”
Holyfield added that his goal as a board member is to make positive changes and to promote Candor. He then invited the media that was covering the meeting to come back next year for the Peach Festival and the Lawnmower Pull.
Britt called on interim Police Chief Eddie Bagwell, who announced that he had two candidates for police positions that he would recommend for employment. He said one, Joseph Majors, could move from part-time to full time and could go to work tomorrow. He said that the other candidate, Barry Lamonds, could work part-time as needed.
The board approved the hiring of the new officers, bringing the police force up to two full-time and one part-time officer working in the town.
Britt and Bagwell both offered their thanks to Sheriff Dempsey Owens for the assistance his department had given the town.
Britt then offered the commissioners another chance to speak.
“It’s 13 days before Christmas,” Hearne continued. “All these officers have families, and we sit here as a board, Booker and myself, we voted against it, and we can’t give any of them a reason why they got fired. Our town employees are worried that they’re next. Who’s next?”
Hearne said that he didn’t feel that it was right, that the citizens deserve an explanation.
“There’s a personnel policy put in place, that I know Commissioner Privett voted on, that was not followed. Until we do things the right way we can’t move forward."
“I will support all five of these commissioners when they make a vote,” Britt said. “What they do is for the Town of Candor.”
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