SC MAYOR FIRES LESBIAN POLICE CHIEF...for BS!

[bluepride]

Residents question why Latta mayor fired the town's first female police chief

LATTA, SC -

The Mayor of the Town Of Latta fired the town's Police Chief on Tuesday.

Latta town councilman Jarett Taylor told us the mayor fired Crystal Moore because she received 7 reprimands.

News13 was there as Moore, the first female chief of Latta, packed her belongings and left her office late Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the news of Moore's firing spread throughout Latta. And some of her supporters rallied in front of Latta Town Hall.

Some said they simply don't understand why Chief Moore was fired.

One Council Member told News13 that the seven reprimands Moore received on Tuesday from the mayor were the first reprimands Moore ever received on the job --- and that's after working for the police department in Latta for more than 20 years.

Dozens of supports rallied outside of Latta Town Hall Wednesday in support of fired Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore.

"This woman has been a veteran of the department and a pillar of this community for years," said Kevin Drawhorn, a Latta resident and supporter of Moore.

Some council members say the mayor didn't follow protocol when he fired Chief Moore.The group plans to discuss the issue in a Latta town council meeting Thursday at 5:30 pm.

"We have codes, but this Mayor refuses to obey anything in that book he don't want to," said Lutherine Williams, a Latta Council member.

Specifically, she says, Mayor Earl Bullard should have first given Chief Moore a verbal warning, then a written one. Then, discuss the matter with council before giving her the boot.

Council members say that Mayor Bullard didn't do any of that.

"If an employee does something, you don't wait three or four days or two or three weeks to do something about it," Williams said.

Instead, Williams says the mayor gave Chief Moore all seven written reprimands in one day. They were her first reprimands during her 20-plus years on the job. 

"I looked at the reasons, some of them are questionable," said Brian Mason, another Latta Council member.

Some residents believe the mayor firing Crystal Moore was payback. Moore investigated Mayor Bullard's most recent hire, Parks And Rec Director Vontray Sellers.

NEWS 13 first broke the story of sellers driving a Latta town vehicle while his license was suspended back in February...Chief Moore found the mayor neglected to conduct a background check on Sellers.

"Since he's been in here, it's been haywire!," said Tammy Taylor, a Latta resident.

Some Latta residents and elected officials say Mayor Bullard had a vendetta against Moore well before he hired sellers -- because Chief Moore is openly gay.

"Before he was sworn in office, he said Anne and Crystal would not have a job," Williams said.

The recording of a phone conversation obtained by news 13 appears to back that up.

Councilman Jared Taylor recorded Mayor Bullard saying he "doesn't agree with some lifestyles."

Part of the conversation says: "I would much rather have someone who drank and drank too much taking care of my child than I have somebody who's lifestyle is questionable around children. Because that ain't the damn way it supposed to be," the mayor is heard on a recording.

Here is the full text of the telephone recording with the Mayor speaking:

"I would much rather have.. and I will say this to anybody's face... somebody who drank and drank too much taking care of my child than I had somebody whose lifestyle is questionable around children.

Because that ain't the damn way it's supposed to be. You know.. you got people out there -- I'm telling you buddy -- I don't agree with some of the lifestyles that I see portrayed and I don't say anything because that is the way they want to live, but I am not going to let my child be around. "

I'm not going to let 2 women stand up there and hold hands and let my child be aware of it. And I'm not going to see them do it with 2 men neither."

I'm not going to do it. Because that ain't the way the world works. "

Now, all these people showering down and saying 'Oh it's a different lifestyle they can have it.' Ok, fine and dandy, but I don't have to look at it and I don't want my child around it."




READ ARTICLE: Residents question why Latta mayor fired the town's first female police chief




What an idiotic thing for this backward, bumbling fool to do. TheChief has never been reprimanded in all of her years on her department.  Until now. And clearly, for no good reason. At least the people of the town are standing up for her. Let's see where this goes.

AN UPDATE: Latta council votes for referendum to weaken mayor after police chief fired


ANOTHER ARTICLE.....IT HAS GONE INTERNATIONAL......: Lesbian police chief with 20 years service is summarily fired by new anti-gay mayor who said 'he'd rather have an alcoholic near his child'

[TheBear]

Apr 18, 2014 13:47:06 GMT -5 bluepride said:

Residents question why Latta mayor fired the town's first female police chief

HATE comes from FEAR which comes from IGNORANCE.

It would seem Mayor Dullard, uh, Bullard is indeed an outstanding exemplar of bullying IGNORANCE.

Bear

[edmontongreg]

Those Carolina's should be separated from the continent and left to drift at sea. Sure, you'd only have 48 states. But you could create 2 more

[cuffnstuff]

BS is right.

[bluepride]

I find it disappointing (understatement of the year...) that none of the GLBT Law Enforcement groups have come out with statements of, at least, support, for Chief Moore. Except us, of course. I've been in limited communication with her and some members of her department and they know we're in her corner. And I'm so glad that her townspeople are standing up to this dope of a Mayor. They've successfully blocked the naming of any successor to the Chief for a while. This is not over, by any means.


READ ARTICLE: South Carolina town protests firing of lesbian police chief

[TheBear]

Well, there IS justice!

News Item: Mayor Dullard, uh, Bullard, has been castrated (metaphorically) and Chief Crystal Moore of Latta, S.C. has her job back at Chief of Police! The town wouldn't put up with the mayor's BS and voted overwhelmingly to have Chief Moore, a lesbian, reinstated and return to duty.

Dullard, oops, did it again... BULLARD who has been mayor since December, sparked outrage in April when he fired Moore after giving her seven reprimands all at once, alleging that she failed to maintain order and questioned authority. Moore maintained that she had done nothing wrong, and that the reprimands were the first she had received in 20 years with the department.

Bullard's move also came as a council member released a recorded phone call in which Bullard went on a homophobic tirade about preferring to leave his children with a raging alcoholic over someone whose "lifestyle is questionable."

In the mean time, Dullard - oh hell, leave it that way - hired another Chief. However, the City Counsel has taken away most of Dullard's power and Ms. Moore WILL be returning to her job as Chief.

(Sigh,) the struggle continues.

LINK:
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/fired-lesbian-police-chief_n_5527333.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices

[bluepride]

Was just checking the site and saw what you just posted, Bear. Unfortunately, she does not have her job back even though the town voted to set the wheels in motion for her to be reinstated. It seems that the bastard Mayor sneakily hired another Chief the other day. This story is not over by any means though. I'm hoping the town can do a recall of this Mayor and have someone replace him. And....I actually hope that Chief Moore is either appointed Mayor or runs for Mayor in the next election. She certainly seems to have the backing of most of her town's citizens. Stay tuned!

Got these from Chief Moore's FB.

[bluepride]

And now I'm glad to say: It's Official! Chief Moore has finally been reinstated!

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIEF CRYSTAL MOORE!

From Chief Moore:

Thank you all for every prayer, messages, text, and support. Prayers and hard work equal justice. I am honored and Blessed to be the Chief of Latta Police Department in South Carolina!!!!

Latta City Council reinstates Crystal Moore

LATTA, S.C. - Latta City Council voted unanimously Friday night to reinstate former police chief Crystal Moore.

The vote came only hours after officials certified Tuesday's vote to change the town's form of government from strong mayor to strong council.

Mayor Earl Bullard was not present at Friday night's meeting.

Bullard fired Moore after she refused to sign seven unexplained reprimands — the first of her 23-year career in law enforcement — that Bullard presented to her on the same day.

Council members pleaded with Bullard to reinstate Moore, to no avail, and finally voted in May to let the town’s citizens decide whether they wanted council or the mayor in charge of the town’s business.

Less than 24 hours after the referendum passed, Bullard announced he’d hired Freddie Davis to be the town’s new police chief. Davis’ resume includes past work in law enforcement at the Florence Police Department, Pamplico Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Kingstree Police Department and, most recently, the Hemingway Police Department, where he was employed as a captain.

According to a copy of Davis’ contract obtained by the Morning News, Davis is scheduled to start work as chief on July 1.

But that doesn’t look likely to happen at this point.

READ ARTICLE HERE: Latta City Council reinstates Crystal Moore

[bluepride]

Crystal Moore returns to work as Latta's Police Chief

Hopping back on the saddle is not always an easy task, once you get knocked off.

"Last night was like kind of how like kids are at Christmas. They are all excited and can't get back to sleep, but you know you need to go to sleep. I was excited looking forward to today,” said recently rehired Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore.

It was an excitement that has been building over the last two and a half months amid all the recent controversy over her firing by Mayor Earl Bullard.

However, now she has her job back as Police Chief.

"These two and half months have gone by so slow. Day to day I went out and talked to the community. I never been in the political limelight or national limelight. I’ve always been about coming here and getting my job done,” she mentioned.

Monday was her first day back, which was overall received well by community members.

"7:00 I showed up and people were already calling the police department wanting to thank me. Thanking me for fighting. The people were coming up to the police department hugging my neck…You know at 7:00 am. They need knew I was coming back to work so they been there already,” Moore added.

Chief Moore, says she owes her community for help giving her, her job back.

"It’s been a blessing to be able to get out, talk to the community. Have their support and get back where I am,” she said.

As for Freddy Davis, the man Mayor Bullard hired as the town’s Police Chief, according to his contract he is supposed to start on Tuesday July 1st.

Chief Moore recently received a letter from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce on her appeal stating that she was “not responsible” for her firing and that her seven write ups were based on “false accusations.”

READ ARTICLE HERE: Crystal Moore returns to work as Latta's Police Chief



Glad to see that the Chief is back on the job! And hopefully, this may lead to even bigger and better things for her!