news
Robert Hall
Police Chief Tony Carleton said the city had officially been notified that the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training had rejected the city's initial application to have Hall recertified, which would give him full police powers.
"We are entitled to a hearing," Carleton said in a news release, "and we have full intentions of following through with this process."
The board's denial had been reported earlier this week, but Carleton and Mayor Jack Reed Jr. withheld comment until they received official word from the board.
Reed also issued a statement that said the city would continue its effort to have Hall recertified. "This is a process," the mayor said. "We will take the next step because our city is a safer place with Robert Hall on our team."
The Board of Standards and Training will meet Sept. 9 and then again in November. It is unknown if the city will present Hall's case at one of those meetings.
If he fails to regain his certificate after appealing to the Board of Standards and Training, the city can take its case to Chancery Court.
Hall lost his certification when he resigned from the department in 2007 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges.
He was rehired in March as deputy chief. Questions were raised then about Hall's lack of certification, but Carleton and Reed argued that he didn't need it because he was operating in an administrative capacity.
This debate resumed recently when some City Council members, who have no authority over police department hiring but control the city budget, raised concerns about the lack of certification.
Without certification, Hall has no arrest powers.
Efforts to contact Hall for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.
Contact Michael Tonos at (662) 678-1605 or michael.tonos@djouranl.com. Contact Danza Johnson at (662) 678-1583 or danza.johnson@djournal.com.
I will ask the question again: how much money has been spent on this and how much is the mayor willing to spend to have his way? Any answers?
MADD, WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!
Robert made a bad decision but thought he covered himself by alledgedly speaking with the chief that was in office. That person seemed not to remeber those conversations and deflected heat away from himself....
The ensuing ethics investigation and lawsuit from Cliff cost alot of money....
More money spent in wasted man hours defending this mess....
It seems that the current city administration is determined to have Robert back no matter who, or how many citizens, voice their displeasure with this re-hire....
Honest Police Officers are being denied a raise in pay that they desperately need and deserve while thousands of dollars are being thrown into this mess - the city probably can't afford to give them a raise considering how much has been spent on rehiring and trying to keep Robert....
The most vocal supporters of this action have now resorted to threats that there will be problems if Robert is not retained in this position yet they never answered the question of how would they have felt if it had been one of their family members that were injured in the incident that started all of this....
The MINIMUM Board of Standards (Note: MINIMUM) reviewed the application and denied it. That should be the end of it. Period.
Yet, this administration continues to ignore common sense and will trhow MORE money down the drain to appeal a decision that was made by an entire board not just one arrogant individual who seems determined to have his way with money that is not his (IT IS TAX MONEY) to get what he wants! This is absolutely the most ridiculous situation that one man could have created....
Will it simply be appeal after appeal after appeal until someone finally gives the answer he wishes? Where will it end and at what cost?
Is there anyone that can appeal to the mayors office and convince this administration that they are totally wrong?
I have the answer to that but it would be inflammatory to bring daddy into it so I will end by simply saying that this is disgusting, wrong, expensive, and the entire mess could be eneded if Robert simply walked away.
Now there seems to be a question of "the plea bargain" that reduced Roberts felony charges to misdemeanors. What were the conditions outlined in that agreement?
It really doesn't matter - the bottom line is this entire mess was generated thru extreme arrogance and is continuing to be fed by that same disinterest in what is best for the city, it's citizens, and the Police Department.
To the fine Officers at the Department that deserve better than this: please keep your heads up and continue to do the job in the manner you know you should. This joke cannot continue forever and you can be the best you can be in spite of the idiocy that this has become.
I salute you and send a raspberry to the ones who created this situation!!
Surely this comment is directed toward Reed and Hall..it they would do the right thing and give this a rest...withdraw, this would go away. In the meantime, the citizens of Tupelo and the Tupelo area, will not...hey how 'bout go tell the child who was struck by the hit and run driver to "get over it".
Give this a rest.
What does it say about a cop when they make headlines on a blog called "Bad Cop News"?
Stay classy Tupelo!! ;)
What gives?
I hope all the voters realize that the rich, well dressed, well educated, polished speaker is not always the best candidate.
Look for the one that genuinely loves Tupelo and the people here.
http://www.ago.state.ms.us/
@tupelofamily: You hit the nail on the head. Reed seems to think that Tupelo is his own little fiefdom that he lords over rather than serving as an elected mayor.
And BTW, didn't Reed only practice law for 4-5 years in the 70s? He's a "lawyer" in name only as he's been peddling overpriced clothes for the past 30 years.
@talonted: Sounds like you have some info on that possibility.
Tell us more!!
We're certainly not going to get the truth about Reed from Journal Inc.
You are not the Czar of our city. You are the Mayor. You work for the people (taxpayors) of this town. Are the city attorneys (the law firm you were once employeed with) going to appeal this pro-bono(sp?)for free? As a citizen and registered voter I strongly disagree with what you are doing. How long are you going to push for something that is wrong. When you attend your local worship service do you pray for God's guidance in the decisions you make for our city? Is this really the direction you've been guided?
@WTF yeah, funny how dick just disappeared.