Pubdate: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) Copyright: 2002 Chattanooga Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992 Author: Candice Combs and Dick Cook FIRING OF POLICE FORCE CALLED MONEY-SAVING MOVE GRUETLI-LAAGER, Tenn. - This tiny town's former mayor and the district attorney both said Monday they thought the firing of the town's police force was about money, not corruption. The mayor and aldermen voted last week to dissolve the force. One vote came from an alderman who had been arrested just days before on prescription fraud charges. Rumors flew that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were investigating in connection with the methamphetamine trade that thrives on the Cumberland Plateau. District Attorney Mike Taylor said Monday some people are trying to make more of this case than just prescription fraud. "The impression I got from Mayor (Donna) Rollins was that (dissolving the police department ) was an economic measure," Mr. Taylor said. "The police didn't work fulltime and the city could save money if it contracted with the sheriff 's department." Former Mayor Wanda Hart, whose administration preceded Mayor Rollins', said the police department takes about 50 percent of the town's budget and citizens were unhappy with the department's service. She said residents were becoming concerned the police department had become too focused on "big-time" meth lab busts in Grundy and surrounding counties. People were worried the officers were overlooking "small time" crimes like speeding, public intoxication and drunken driving, she said. "Meth labs are important, but there's other stuff going on other than meth labs," she said. Ms. Hart said she was puzzled why the current administration hasn't commented publicly on the decision to eliminate the police department. She said the public has been supportive. "The mayor has gotten thankyou notes," she said. Elected and police officials still weren't commenting Monday. Mayor Rollins, James Layne and Aldermen Connie Cannon and Dwight Hargis did not respond to telephone messages. Contacted at his home, former Police Chief Ferrell Hicks said, "Go away," and shut the door. Ms. Hart said she doesn't believe anybody is investigating City Hall. "The TBI and DEA have been there going through evidence, but that's for ongoing cases they shared with the police department - it's all evidence they need to finish them," she said. Mr. Taylor said he believed the motion to dissolve the Gruetli-Laager Police Department was on the agenda before Mr. Layne was arrested. Mr. Taylor said he would ask the TBI to look into the matter if someone comes forward with evidence that Mr. Layne acted to dissolve the department because of outside pressure or revenge. Grundy County Sheriff Robert Meeks said Monday it will be costly to patrol Gruetli-Laager. "We have to pay out for more gas, wear and tear on our vehicles, more officers' time," he said. "If it continues, we'll ask for a contract with the city," he said. "I think we'll be able to work something out financially." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth