Citizens, sheriff sound-off at council meeting on dispatch, police restructuring

The overflow crowd at Tuesday night’s city council meeting included several people with signs protesting Mayor John Royalty’s policies. Click to enlarge.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

April 26, 2016, 10:30 p.m. (UPDATED to add video April 27, 8 a.m.) — Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly did not mince words Tuesday night before the Bardstown City Council.

Mattingly spoke during the public input portion of the meeting and had some critical comments about the city’s possible split from the joint city-county 911 dispatch center, and having the Kentucky State Police (KSP) handle the city’s police and fire dispatching.

Mattingly, as sheriff, is a member of the E-911 Dispatch Board.

He questioned the cost estimates KSP provided the city in response to a February letter from Bardstown Mayor John Royalty that asked them to submit a proposal to do the city’s 911 dispatching.

“If you think you can get quality dispatching for that, and if you the Kentucky State Police won’t come before you, then you are badly mistaken — and both of these policemen know that,” he said, pointing at former officers Royalty and Councilman Bill Buckman.

NELSON COUNTY SHERIFF ED MATTINGLY

Mattingly was critical of the mayor for lying about the city’s request to KSP, and also of the derogatory comments about the dispatch employees that surfaced in the discussions of the local E-911 dispatch service.

“I’m completely frustrated with the lack of respect shown to dispatchers,” Mattingly said in reference to comments Buckman made about Nelson County Dispatch at Monday’s city council safety committee meeting.

Buckman cited instances when communications with dispatchers was inadequate, and accused them of using social media or playing games while on  dispatch duty.

• Click here to listen to Buckman’s comments at the safety committee meeting.

Mattingly called on the council members to visit the dispatch center and observe the center’s operation. “You can see what it is these people do, and they deserve much more respect than they’ve been given.”

Mattingly also said Royalty had degraded individuals who volunteered and worked for the City of Bardstown, and they deserve better treatment than that.

“I’m furious to the point that the county building you all are in, I’ve advised the Judge to kick you out,” he said, referring to the building the city uses for its police department.

Mark Ballard, a part-time Nelson County EMS employee, was critical of the proposal to have KSP provide dispatching services.

Councilman Francis Lydian questioned the legality of the mayor seeking bids without the council’s approval or input.

Anything that delays a response by EMS or police can endanger lives, he said. Sometimes a delay of a single minute can make a difference in a life-or-death situation.

“No matter how good they try, there’s going to be a delay,” he said. “And those minutes will matter.”

Councilman Francis Lydian said he didn’t believe the mayor had the authority — without council approval — to seek bids for services. He asked City Attorney Tim Butler to research the question and determine if Royalty had the authority to do what he did.

POLICE RESTRUCTURING. Bardstown resident Louis Ballard was critical of the recent restructuring of the city police department, calling it “performance-base demotions” instead.

“I think that what occurred with the city police department was a demotion disguised as a restructuring,” Ballard told the council. “If you’ll agree with me that this was a demotion, then the men who suffered a reduction in grade — by law — were entitled to a hearing before this body.”

In the restructuring, two of McCubbin’s command staff — Capt. Tom Roby and Lt. Chris Brandon — were both demoted to patrolman. In comments to media outlets, Royalty has implied that the restructuring was the result of some issues within the department.

Bardstown resident Louis Ballard called on the council to conduct an independent investigation to determine if the handling of the police department restructuring could involve misconduct by the mayor.

Because they did not receive a hearing, Ballard said Royalty could be guilty of misconduct by violating state law. Ballard called for the council to hire legal counsel to investigate if any misconduct occurred.

“If the mayor is correct, you can go to the voters and proclaim unequivocally that you independently fleshed this out and that you are not covering up for the mayor,” he said. “If the mayor is incorrect, there is a compelling argument for his legal removal.”

Neither the mayor nor members of the council responded to the public comment during the meeting.

NEXT UP. The council will next meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016. That meeting will be followed by a special meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss hiring a special investigator to look into possible wrongdoing by the mayor in regard to the police department restructuring.

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