Politics, done right

This went through Team Discussion on ArfCom earlier today. Original writer lists location as "Missouri". I haven't gone digging too hard for confirmation yet, but I'd love to find it.

Our Chief of Police of many years retired about four months ago. Instead of promoting a local guy, who most of the community really wanted to be the new Chief, the city council in a lame duck bout of stupidity (Those in favor of not promoting the local guy have since all been voted out of office) decided to hire a recently retired State Highway Trooper. He spent 99% of his career working in and around St. Louis and rubbed a lot of locals the wrong way almost immediately with some of his new BS policies.

Today in a special council meeting where the new Chief asked for an ordinance, punishable by fine and CONFISCATION, against OC and visibly displayed weapons (no rifles or shotguns in the window rack of a pickup anymore) he was fired. I guess he no more got through making his presentation for all the new ordinances he wanted than the Mayor, and several of the council, including our lone council woman, produced hand guns and laid them on the table in front of them. From what I heard a motion to terminate his employment was made within seconds, seconded, voted on and, POOF, the Chief was the ex-Chief. The vote was 6 to 0, with the Mayor not voting since there was no tie, in favor of immediate termination. The City Attorney accepted his immediate resignation on the spot and had a letter of resignation ready for him to sign!

The guy had to call his wife to come get him since they took his City property, including his badge and the keys to his City car, from him right then and there. From what I've heard he was not at all prepared for this kind of reaction. During his little presentation he said some of them might not happy with what he saw as necessary steps to control "unacceptable behavior" in our town. Apparently there weren't!

Serving at the will of the people...

ETA: I'll reiterate that I have *no* confirmation of this. And the city council going group-Cletus with their heaters kind of twitches the smell test... but I'm keeping an eye on the thread to see if something new shows up. Lots of people have asked for verification from an independent source.