published: Friday, August 03, 2012

Real problems of APPD come into play

Editor:

To date, the proposal to transfer law enforcement for the city of Avon Park from the police department (APPD) to the sheriff's office has been cast purely in economic terms. However, I favor the proposal because it deals with the real problem with the APPD in the most cost effective manner: changing the perception of the culture within the police department.

While I personally have not been subject to any misconduct by any APPD officer, I have certainly heard from those who feel they have been.

First, there is widespread disenchantment among the African American community on the south side of Avon Park with the police department. Second, in the last five years there have been more newspaper reported instances of APPD officer misconduct - both on duty and off duty, than all of the other law enforcement agencies in the county combined. That cast a shadow over the reputation of APPD. I have heard from a number of people that APPD has been a problem for years. That perception is out there. Third, the turnover in having four police chiefs in the last five years has more impact than space will permit. But I will cite one particularly disturbing incident. One APPD chief personally investigated his perceived political opponent. However, when it came time for that chief to be investigated he asked for an independent investigation rather than one from an agency run by his perceived political opponent. That is a double standard. Many APPD officers served under that individual for years. There are legitimate concerns that type of mindset is institutionalized within APPD.

First, there is widespread disenchantment among the African American community on the south side of Avon Park with the police department. Second, in the last five years there have been more newspaper reported instances of APPD officer misconduct - both on duty and off duty, than all of the other law enforcement agencies in the county combined. That cast a shadow over the reputation of APPD. I have heard from a number of people that APPD has been a problem for years. That perception is out there. Third, the turnover in having four police chiefs in the last five years has more impact than space will permit. But I will cite one particularly disturbing incident. One APPD chief personally investigated his perceived political opponent. However, when it came time for that chief to be investigated he asked for an independent investigation rather than one from an agency run by his perceived political opponent. That is a double standard. Many APPD officers served under that individual for years. There are legitimate concerns that type of mindset is institutionalized within APPD.

If the Avon Park City Council does not have the political courage to turn law enforcement over to the sheriff's office, then there must be a plan to instill public confidence in APPD. That plan must include input from the city council, the city manager, the PBA union, most importantly community leaders and business leaders. We have a genuine problem in merely keeping APPD the way it is. It must be changed one way or the other.

Joe Wright