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Trinity Sass (left) and her cousin, Taylor Lillpop, join their dads in asking the Avon Park city council to keep the police department, instead of bringing in the sheriff's office.

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published: Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Residents rally for APPD

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- About 30 people rallied outside city council chambers Monday night in support of keeping the police department open.

Participants have concerns because the council is researching the possibility of closing the department and bringing in the Highlands County Sheriff's Office in its place.

"They (the officers) always look out for us. When we call them they are right there. One of our clerks had a stroke and help was there within five minutes. We're worried the sheriff's office would take longer," said Mary Weaver, who manages the Hess Station on U.S. 27.

Weaver also said that the Avon Park officers make an effort to connect with the public. "I was having trouble with my son," she said, "and they were there with me every step of the way."

"As a resident here I want to save the police department," said Frank Mazza, another demonstrator. "I want the opportunity to make the decision. As taxpayers I think we should have the right to vote (on the issue)."

Should the sheriff's office be brought in under a contract, there would be no referendum. The decision would be made by the city council alone.

Mazza said residents are willing to pay the costs of a local department. Most city residents for example, he said, supported the fire assessment a few years ago because they wanted a local service. "We took it and paid the money," he said.

Mazza said the police department has vastly improved and gained a reputation for looking out for city residents.

"Everyone says to be careful through town, you better slow down or you'll get a ticket. It makes our streets safer," he said.

Hiram Obregon, who was at the rally with his wife and is an Avon Park officer, said, "We're willing to negotiate with the council. We're willing to relieve the burden on the city. We just want a chance to be heard."

During the council meeting, the subject was not on the agenda, but citizens wanted to address the issue and did so during the citizen participation portion of the meeting.

Most described the personal connection they have with patrolling officers and the department, which they are afraid would be lost with the sheriff's larger organization. Response times were also a major concern.

Former mayor Tom Macklin addressed three different points.

Code enforcement had not been mentioned in the sheriff's proposal, he said, but is a part of the police department. He asked what provisions were going to made for that.

He is also concerned that the city had not laid out enough specific criteria for the sheriff to address in her proposal.

"Was she told we'd like to have X number of officers patrolling within municipal boundaries of Avon Park (and at what specific hours), or was it a situation where we'd like you to take over the police department, or a portion of it, and please let us know what you would charge to do that?" he asked

Mayor Sharon Schuler replied, "The city council just made the recommendation for the city manager to go out and get a proposal from the sheriff's office. I don't know the particulars about the code enforcement, but

"I think we are definitely in negotiations with our police officers, so I could not comment one way or the other on what's going to happen to whatever."

She added, "the city manager, as we all know, runs the city. It's important that the city council doesn't run the city, so he was given direction by the council to go and get a proposal from the sheriff's office, and that's what we have."

Macklin responded by saying there is a difference in going out for a contract -- where the city specifically lists what is needed and the contractor fulfills those requirements for an agreed upon sum.

But, Macklin said, "It would appear to me that we are not talking about contract services, but we are talking about a transfer of power and when you look into the Florida constitution there are very different criteria assigned to the obligations of the municipality and the electors when it comes to contract services and transfer of power."

He referred back to the switch from local dispatchers to a central dispatch run by the sheriff's office. "That was something that was just given away," Macklin said.

"The supervising capacities and control over dispatchers just disappeared, and frankly that was a violation of the constitution of the state of Florida, because when you transfer power to another entity, it has to go before the electorate of the city -- (who have to agree) yes, this is something we are willing to give up -- and then go before the electors in the county at large -- yes, we'll accept it. That's the dual referendum issue."

Schuler said, "I'm not sure that is a decision that the city council makes, but I can assure we will look at every avenue to be sure we are in compliance If it's a contractual agreement it will be spelled out for us and anyone who needs the information. We'll make sure it goes public."

City Manager Julian Deleon announced some changes in upcoming meetings.

The Saturday, July 28, workshop has been canceled. There will be a special budget meeting on Aug. 4 to discuss the police department. The Wednesday meeting July 11 is at 5 p.m.

That meeting will focus on the police and fire pension board. There will be presentations by, among others, the Florida League of Cities.

There will be another rally in support of the police department before the July 11 meeting.