HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19650113 Force January 13,1965
Aspen, Colorado Special Meetir~-Aspen City Council and Members of the Police
Meeting The special me.eting was called to order at 4:15 PM, by Mayor Pabst, with
with Councilmen Barnard, Kuster and McEachern, and City Administrator Kerrigan present-
~.~ Police Councilman Stapleton was absent.
! Force.
I Also present were Chief Hennig, and Officers Ricks, Whitmire and Wilson.
}~. , Council decided to interview each officer separately, and the officers with-
drew.
Officer Ricks was called in and the Mayor said the purpose of the meeting is
to find out why he and Officer Whitmire had resigned.
Officer Ricks - he feels there is dissatisfaction with their work - referred to
bad publicicty and references made to "stupid and inefficient cops". He does not
feel they are to blame. ~
Ricks also referred/~o a marijuana incident (in the Red Onion) on which in-
formation had not bee~ given to him, and he feels the Onief does n.~t have confi-
dence in him/
Discussed - lack of communication
Need for co-operation
No meetings had been held with Council
Police dog - announced - but not yet here.
His resignation - not yet accepted.
was
Officer Whitmire then came in and/asked why he had resigned - he said it
was due to bad publicity - and also referred to Mike Wilson having been hired
at a higher rate of pay; also that Wilson had not brough~ any dog with him. .He
mentioned lack of co-operation within the force - and said he had put in many
hours of overtime for which he had not been paid; alse referred to need for
better communication; and to detriment tm his health of excess overtime. He said
he is reconsidering his resignation and asked that Council meet with members of
the force.
Office Mike Wilson was called in. City Administrator Kerrigan said his back-
ground and trained dog had been discussed at his interview in November and Council
and Kerrigan understood that he would bring the dog to Aspen. Councilman Barnard
asked if he had a dog at that time. Wilson said "yeseS:but when he returned home,
the dog had been put to sleep and he felt it would be better to g~t another one.
Discussed- that Chief ehould have been informed whe~ dog had been put to sleep;
Kerrigan has contacted veterinarian, who will confirm disposing of dog and date this
was done.
Chief Hennig then was called in. He was asked about the dog, and replied
that he did not know why Wilson had not explained why no dog. Considerable discus-
sion followed regarding incident at a party where there had been an indication that
the dog kad been disposed of before Wilson returned home. Councilman Barnard felt
Wilson' should not stay on the force.
Discussed with the Chief - complaints of officers, and he is agreeable to
having the resignations of Ricks and Whitmire withdrawn. The re~ignatio~ of
Don Zordel has been accepted. Council would like to have resignations of Ricks
and Whitmire withdrawn, and the matter of better communication within the force
will be considered.
Mayor Rabst will prepare a letter from hi~self and the Council to the Police
' Force, indicating Council's confidence an~ support.
This part of the meeting closed at 6:15 Pm.
Davis Holder Davis Holder, engineer, was present and said he is getting reports on soil
Improyement cement, also tests - he does not recommend soil cement for the paving in Improve-
District No. 2 merit District; he does recommend flexible bas~. He said City would have to go to
9% with soil cement, which would r~a~ise the cost.
Discussed - the materials in the paving must be indicated in the petitions.
Mr. Holder said preliminary ~a~x design is set and he would like to meet with
Council this will be brought up at the regular meeting Monday, January 18, 1965.
The size.of the district is also to be determined.
This part of the meeting was adjourned at 6:35PM upon motion by Councilman
Kuster, seconded by ~ouncilman Barnard, and carried.