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."
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