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Citizens irked by school SRO response
To the editor:
What a missed opportunity for our city officials and Blytheville school officials in a telephone interview with Chris Pinkard of the Courier News, in regards to the SRO (school resource officer) issue. I consider it to be "wasteful time" in making that interview to be about Tony Hollis, and very little reported on implementing safeguards measures to improving school safety, besides making a general statement, "Our schools are safe," and (one) city official and (one) city employee playing politics at the expense of school safety.
I'm referring to the article that made front page news on Feb. 18, 2014, titled "District OK with SRO situation." In this article, my credibility was called into question when school officials and Superintendent Richard Atwill disputed statements made by me, stating to have never made any requests for additional officers, nor does it need another SRO officer. As I sit and read this article, I was in disbelief of those comments made by Mr. Atwill, because as Mr. Atwill stated, we have a good working relationship when it comes to the education and safety of our students. In fact, in public meetings, I'm on record stating how Mr. Atwill and school personnel is doing an outstanding job in keeping our schools safe; unfortunately this is not the case for other schools across the nation that have encountered deadly school shootings.
Therefore, I thought it was necessary to pay a visit to the superintendent's office on Monday, Feb. 24. We had a conversation about the comments made by him to the Courier News, and I was made aware that a conversation also had occurred with the mayor and chief prior to the Feb. 18 article. No, I did not pump Mr. Atwill for information, nor did he share what was said of that conversation with the mayor and chief, but inquiring minds would sure like to know. So based on the timeline, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. However, I would ask, "What do Tony Hollis have to gain or lose?" Now ask the same question for the mayor, chief and Mr. Atwill. Well, let me enlighten you:
The mayor: is up for re-election, shall he choose to run and might very well face opposition. He also has a full plate of issues that's facing the city, and he needs to focus on his approval rating with the voters, if he has any chance of being reelected.
The chief: I have for the past year called upon the mayor and city council to remove the police chief, due to his failures in overseeing the BPD. Under the leadership of this chief have been issues with citizen complaints, police abuse, police misconduct, calling police officers back to duty pending an ongoing investigation without the approval of prosecutor or mayor, etc. ... If the chief issue is solved, this helps the mayor, who supervises the police and fire departments.
Superintendent Atwill: Here's the deal. Whatever was discussed among these three individuals prior to the Feb. 18 article, I believe explains why Mr. Atwill took the position he did. The district did not want to risk losing the one resource officer it presently has. The superintendent has shared with me on more than once of his expectation on getting the other SRO back, because the district had already spent $3,620.27 of taxpayers' money in training or a total of $6,021.74 for both combined, according to financial printout submitted to me, after making an FOI request for information on day of my visit, Feb. 24. I also asked him should the taxpayers receive some benefit or expect a return on the investment made. Or should the taxpayers just count this expenditure as a lost and move on? Wasteful spending should never be acceptable by taxpayers. I don't have an issue with money spent on training for officers; in fact, I'm in agreement that it's needed. My problem is with the mayor and chief lack of concerns on this issue. Mr. Mayor, are the taxpayers to believe that sending one SRO back to the school will put the city safety at risk? Please!
If it means that I must take an adversary approach, as stated by Mr. Atwill, then so be it, because when it comes to the safety of my two beautiful granddaughters, whom I love very much, I will use every resource available in keeping them safe. "Hell will freeze over before I allow the mayor and chief to continue sitting on their hands and ignoring this issue." We as a community have a moral obligation to care and a peace of mind that our children and grandchildren are not exposed to possible danger. Do the "honorable and caring" thing, Mr. Mayor, by ordering the chief to send the other SRO back to the school district that taxpayers' money has already paid for.
Thanking you in advance and ask that you join me in support of a cleaner and safer Blytheville.