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Oak Ridge police chief placed on leave

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Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:35 a.m.

Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi has been placed on administrative leave, and Deputy Chief Robin Smith has taken over daily operations for now, City Manager Mark Watson said Thursday.

Akagi is on leave until Watson can meet with him after returning from a trip to China, the city manager said.

Three anonymous letters were sent in June and July to Watson, Oak Ridge City Council members, other law enforcement officials, and local media outlets. The letters have been reviewed and have been a catalyst for concern, Watson said Thursday.

The letters are not signed, but they said they are from Oak Ridge Police Department employees. One letter said it represented an “overwhelming majority” of ORPD members. Among other things, the letters raised concerns about harassment, a hostile work environment, hostility, retaliation, policy decisions, and turnover. The letters ask for Akagi’s removal or termination, and an investigation by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission or some other “independent and unbiased agency.” They said conditions have not improved since the 2015 review by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service at the University of Tennessee and have gotten worse instead.

In a text message from China on Thursday, Watson said many of the statements in the letters were found to be false, while others are being investigated. However, it wasn’t immediately clear which claims have been investigated and which have yet to be evaluated.

“I will know more upon my return from out of the country,” Watson said.

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Akagi wasn’t immediately available for comment by phone Thursday evening.

Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs is acting city manager while Watson is out of town. Suggs wasn’t immediately available for comment by email Thursday evening.

Smith, the deputy chief, became acting chief on Thursday.

“ORPD shifts are being advised of the situation,” Watson said.

The 2015 MTAS report, which one letter this summer called “bogus,” said pay was cited most often as the reason for turnover and low morale in the Oak Ridge Police Department. But some officers have disputed whether that’s the primary issue in the ORPD, pointing instead to the chief.

The primary person pressing for an investigation in 2015 was former Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn. She and others had raised questions about the chief’s temperament, including whether he had outbursts and was vindictive, and what Baughn suggested was a high turnover rate.

The City Council approved a six-month review of the ORPD that focused on morale, turnover, and administrative policies, hiring MTAS in March 2015. MTAS presented its findings in a 20-page report presented to the Oak Ridge City Council in a special work session in October of that year.

In that report, MTAS gave 23 recommendations to the City Council, which did not ask for the chief to be removed or terminated. Here were a few specific MTAS recommendations related to pay, demeanor, and inconsistencies:

  • consider a classification and compensation study and adequately fund the results,
  • re-examine the city’s merit system for compliance and funding,
  • tell employees each year how their pay and benefits compare to regional agencies,
  • have the city manager closely monitor the chief’s conduct and interaction with employees, and
  • educate employees on the city’s grievance policies and appeals processes.

It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday night if all of those recommendations have been implemented.

Before MTAS issued its report almost three years ago, there had been a divisive months-long debate that pitted those who supported the chief, even if they acknowledged that improvements could be made, against those who pushed for an aggressive investigation and sometimes called for the chief’s removal. There has been little public discussion since then, although a few officers have continued to share their concerns.

The letters sent this year would appear to be the first coordinated public outreach since then. The letters were sent to city officials, other law enforcement officers, and local media on June 1, July 10, and July 12. The last letter, in particular, included specific information about specific employees.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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  • Nancy England

    I talked with Chief Akagi shortly after he was hired and I remain convinced that he is ideal for the job in Oak Ridge. I would certainly encourage settling this matter, in the Chief’s favor, before it can get out of hand. If one of the investigators would like to further hear my reasons, I’m available.

    • John Criswell

      I don’t fault you for your comments, because you don’t have enough information. Unless you have worked for him, you really have no idea what he is capable of.

      • Matt Bailey

        John, here’s the information we don’t have but I’d speculate you have, since I believe you were highlighted in one of the letters. (1) who’s the anonymous writer (2) did the same person write them all. (3) is there a paper trail of complaints filed with HR and conversations with mark Watson prior to writing “anonymous” letters? And what steps did HR and / or Watson take to resolve these issues? Since you’re a policeman used to investigations, I feel certain you can find this information but I speculate you already know.

        • Mike Mahathy

          As stated I (we) don’t know all the facts.

          What I do know is in 2010/11 Oak Ridge had a serious crime problem. Now we don’t.

      • Tracy Powers

        He was capable of giving you a promotion tho, wasn’t he? Why don’t YOU show us, John, evidence? Anonymous letters are not evidence. They are trash and should have been treated as such.

        These allegations sound suspiciously like the ones y’all were claiming few years ago that were also found to be false.

        Chief Akagi give you a promotion after the last debacle when Trina, you, and a couple of other cops and their wives tried to unsuccessfully drag his name thru the mud??  That doesn’t sound like a man bent on retaliation. That sounds like a man who saw something in you that deserved it. Too bad.

        We don’t have to work for him to understand these anonymous allegations are getting to be a little habit from a few thin-skinned troublemakers that don’t have the guts to sign their name to their allegations.

        Whoever the spineless one is that’s instigating this is no better than Trina Baughn and the followers are worse. Cowards. If you all truly believe you’ve got a case against the Chief, you’d have stood up like men and stated your case. Not hide behind a keyboard.  Shameful.

        Mr. Watson was WRONG to send him home because of a few anon letters that have already been found to contain lies!!  As a resident of Oak Ridge, I’m ashamed of those in our police force that chose the chicken s#$% way to handle complaints.  This is NOT the way an officer of the law gets respect.  #notinthistown

        As I stated in letter above, IF this is investigated again it needs to be at the accusers expense (taxpayers have paid for this once already).  And, if AGAIN found to be false, the accusers need to agree beforehand to resign from the force. 

        Drama and this type nonsense seems to follow you.  Odd, isn’t it?

        • Lauren Biloski

          It is a loss to Oak Ridge that Detective Criswell and many other compassionate, dedicated, and selfless Officers voluntarily left ORPD to take positions in other local departments or pursue early retirement because of internal issues within ORPD. Every single interaction that I ever had with Detective Criswell and many of the departed Officers was handled professionally, expeditiously, and honestly. They were able to safeguard many in dangerous and life-threatening situations, ensure that loved ones received justice, and provide care and comfort to those who needed it because of actions outside of their control. The Officers received respect when they were in the field and in the Courtroom and respect was returned to us from them. Common sense seems to be lost on many today and is a characteristic that is essential for Officers today. A rotating door of new patrol officers, detectives, and investigators does not instill public trust. New Officers are constantly having to learn who citizens are, we have to spend tax dollars training new recruits only to have them leave for another Department, and we no longer have that friendly face that we have grown to know and admire in our time of need. It also affects how cases are prosecuted and sometimes victims of crimes never receive the justice that is due to them because their officer relocated or is no longer with ORPD. I hope that ORPD is able to hold onto the remaining Officers that are with the Department that exhibit the same standards and qualifications. We are a small community that needs to have faith and trust in our Police Department and that faith and trust starts at the top and trickles down. We do not shame victims of a crime for coming forward to ask for help or assistance and I hate to see members of our community doing that to Officers who sacrificed their lives for us for doing the same. If the allegations turn out to be false or baseless then the Chief will be reinstated and will be thanked for doing his job. If the allegations and concerns turn out to be true then those who risked their professional name for our safety and the good of our community deserve an apology and a huge thank you.

          • Matt Bailey

            Sadly, ma’m, no one has apparently risked anything yet, as the authors of the letters failed to sign their names. Therefore, there appears to be no one to apologize to, for whatever reason! But, should this work out in the Chief’s favor, who will apologize to him and his family for once again putting them thru this?

          • Tracy Powers

            Matt, if they go by past practice, no one will apologize to the Chief or his family.

          • Tracy Powers

            If the allegations turn out to be false, as a citizen, expect a lot more than a “thank you” for doing his job. We’ve been thru this before. I don’t recall a single apology (except from me) to the Chief for the baseless accusations made by a few malcontents who jumped on the Baughn train, without proof against him or his family. The citizens of OR that had nothing to do with those ridiculous claims made by Baughn and her followers paid in more ways than one.

            Making anonymous allegations does not qualify as one risking their “professional name.” Taking anonymous allegations seriously condones anyone with a grudge against the Chief to accuse him of anything they can dream up. Any Chief of Police will have made a few enemies, it comes with the job.

            Again, if they have evidence of misconduct they have no reason to fear retaliation or hide their identity. If these type claims are, again, found to be false then those accusers, if employed by the City, need to be terminated.

            I wonder how many of those against the Chief, immediately jumped to conclusions. Have any of them gone to the station and met with Chief Akagi personally? He was very receptive when I met with him without an appointment to apologize. He didn’t know why I was there, but he met with me anyway. He was touched and forgiving. I asked him about the other claims that were floating around Facebook’s Oak Ridge gossip/bullying groups. I read about them before they banned me for going against their agenda and telling the truth. He explained every issue I brought up.

            If he ever sees this, I want him to know the majority of citizens trust him and appreciate everything he has done for our city. I hate that he’s being put through this again and sincerely hope once all is said and done he doesn’t voluntarily leave. We put our trust in him, he should be able to trust that we have his back and his officers backs.

  • Tracy Powers

    “There has been little public discussion since then, although a few officers have continued to share their concerns.” 

    That’s because those that were backing Trina’s every lie and posting slanderous and libelous claims were very publicly found to be wrong. Not one of them read the document that started that ridiculous witchhunt. When it came out that there was NOTHING to their false claims, they retreated back into their blackholes without one single apology to those that were right and more importantly, to Chief Akagi.

    Now we have these newest anonymous letters which, according to City Manager Watson, “…many of the statements in the letters were found to be false, while others are being investigated…” 

    “Among other things, the letters raised concerns about harassment, a hostile work environment, hostility, retaliation, policy decisions, and turnover.”

    This is rich. These “anonymous” officers dare claim concerns about “harassment, hostile work environment….” 

    The only harassment, etc. is towards Chief Akagi from these same individuals. The very fact that those claiming these same “concerns” years ago (and found to be false) still have their jobs (some having even been promoted) shows there is no retaliation from the Chief.

    And now they want ANOTHER investigation by the TPOS&TC, etc. with the same claims to be paid for again by the taxpayers?

    IF there is to be ANOTHER investigation, it should not take place until these accusers come forward publicly.  The public deserves to know how many of them have received promotions and awards from the Chief since their last false allegations. 

    ***IF these allegations are AGAIN found to be false then those officers should agree to resign from the ORPD.  I think you’ll find that’s where the low morale is coming from. One or more bad apples can spoil the whole bunch. 

    What would be even more telling is a looksee into some of these officers previous issues on other police forces and the trouble they caused their old departments.

    • Emilee Howington Smith

      Couldn’t agree more with you, Tracy!

    • Matt Bailey

      Tracy, I’ve seen the letters. Here’s the best statement of all: Some officers would stay and “be willing to take a pay cut.” Wow. Before we fire anyone, I want those guys who’ll take less money to raise their hand. Yep, right now, let’s see those hands! Raise ’em good and high. Should that day EVER come, we can adjust their salary downwards. Yep, that’ll solve ALL the problems. AND, perhaps we oughta go thru the whole city staff and see if there are any more people who are willing to work for less money. Heck, we might save enough to give the rest of the city employees a raise that they all deserve (well, except for those mentioned above).

  • Jack Mansfield, Lt, retired

    I am not a bit surprised that this problem has risen to the surface again. The MTAS “investigation” was a white wash and a complete farce. Nothing changed inside the department after the investigation, except it got worse. It became clear to everyone the city manager did not care along with the city council…they just didn’t care. So Akagi continued his abrasive behavior.

    Chief Akagi is a small man using his position to bully people. It is why many of us left. I was eligible for retirement when he arrived. It was my intent to stay another 2 years to give the new chief time to settle in and get the department going in a good direction. It became quickly apparent that he was going to destroy the department in short order. I left 3 months after he arrived. Many more followed, some who could retire and those who found new jobs as soon as they could.

    The reason people write anonymous letters is because if they put their names down, their heads would be lopped off in short order. The Chief is very vindictive. For example, there are officers who are given impossible assignments that they have no natural skill set to accomplish, or formal training to aid them. When they fail to complete this impossible assignment, they are disciplined. This tactic is being used to give grounds for dismissal or to pressure them to leave the department, so someone the chief likes can take their place.

    The chief plays favorites for a season, but eventually he turns on them also. No one is allowed to share the power for long.

    I really hurt for the employees who remain and have to live in a hostile environment. A police officer can learn to put up with the negative public he has to deal with. He can learn to deal with small pay. He can do this easily if the morale inside the department is excellent and there is a true team spirit. But if the morale is in the tank and they are being bullied, the work place becomes unbearable. Then they vote with their feet and many have chosen to do so.

    The employees deserve better…the city deserves better…we need a chief who will show love, and respect for all employees, treating them fairly and firmly when needed, but clearly demonstrating that he has their back.

    • Matt Bailey

      Mr. Mansfield, here we go again. The band’s back together again, despite the near universal feeling that OR is a safer place to live and visit. Each time I’ve mentioned this to the Chief, he’s never failed to give his officers the credit they deserve, and has never taken personal credit for it. Even in smaller groups, I’ve never seen him claim otherwise. Previously, we suffered thru the “Bobby Hill” anonymous emails (I think most people now know who that likely was, don’t we?), and now three anonymous letters have been received. Most of the recent charges were bogus and have already been refuted by people who were in a position to detail why they were false. Thus, the credibility of those involved has once again been called into question. Funny how anonymity and falsehoods will do that. I have no doubt he’s a complete reversal from the past administration. It would certainly appear the results are better. We’ll see what happens. A couple of years ago dozens of people filed into meetings to protest the situation, yet when the truth began to surface, you couldn’t fill a phone booth with the last few believers.

      • Jack Mansfield

        The problem is Matt, the truth did not come out. The city council wasn’t interested in the truth or they would have obtained the services of a truly independant investigator who was truly interested in finding the truth. MTAS did not deliver the truth which was painfully evident from their bogus report. Watson was going to cover for him regardless and City council demonstrated they didn’t give a hoot…so we just walked away…we did all we could to tell the story…but we were just spinning our wheels…no one who could do somethng about it cared…very sad.

        • Matt Bailey

          Jack, as I remember, there were some obvious poor choices that were offered up, along with MTAS, whose qualifications are unmatched. I assume their report was based on the information they received and the main thing that came out was that cops want more money … no surprise there, who doesn’t! I think the councils’ payment of $25K proved indeed, they wanted a report they could trust in, and they did. As did 90% of the city. Remember how many negative commenters lived outside the city? Cops had an opportunity to tell their side to MTAS. Just because you disagreed with it doesn’t it make it bad or biased Jack. Is it just possible the ones who complained were far fewer and less vocal re: problems when they met with MTAS in private? Again, many of the claims back then were found to be baseless and council approved $25K regardless to ensure the cops were being treated fairly. They made recommendations, which I assume were followed. I would imagine there’s another side to this story. But at the moment, Bobby Hill + the comments made by multiple family members on social media disrespecting the Chief and the office + 3 anonymous letters and blatant mistruths + the past poorly researched accusations which turned out to be false + the positive outreach the Chief has had with the city residents over the past couple of years + a downturn in crime according to the DA + a cop car for every cop + + + = a tough sell to the community. But, as I said, it’s election season.

          • Jack Mansfield

            Rex Barton was the MTAS investigator…ironically, he and I attended the basic police academy together in 1979. It was obvious to me the way he couched his report to smooth over the truth, is that he had turned into an “office weeney”, a term we use to describe someone who has lost touch with the street and turned into a pure administrator. His recommendation to “have the city manager closely monitor the chief’s conduct and interaction with employees” was laughable. Could you imagine the city manager going down the hall to follow Akagi around to make sure he was behaving properly with his employees…lol. Do you think that if he did, Akagi would act out in front of him? I’m sure if you were able to investigate and get the truth, not one recommendation that Barton made was implemented.

            Akagi is like Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde. He can present himself in a very professional positive manner when dealing with the public. But behind closed doors that mask comes off. His behavior is that of a “tin horn tyrant”. In the three months I was there before I retired I saw him disrespect employees in a way that I had never seen in the 33 years of my career. It is just as John Criswell stated above, “Unless you have worked for him, you really have no idea what he is capable of.”

            In the past seven years of Akagi’s reign, in the first six months he was there, five very experienced supervisors, only two of which retired, left the department. Officers who could, have left in droves. Three officers who were promoted by Akagi to sergeant have since left the department…this is unprecedented. One of the sergeants took a 10k cut in pay when he left, and the reason he left he plainly stated was because, “Akagi is a nut”. He told me how one day he was out on Edgemoor road on a traffic stop and Akagi pulled up as his backup. After the stop Akagi stated, “now let’s f… with some more people”. This sergeant stated, “in my entire career I have never had an attitude to “f… with people”.

            I wish you and all those who come to Akagi’s defense could be a fly on the wall for a couple of weeks to observe what happens behind closed doors…you would be shocked.

          • Matt Bailey

            Jack, I think millions of bosses have had to monitor a subordinate’s efforts and behavior and usually a plan of action is determined, because no one can be there all day. I don’t know how you investigate your charges, as likely some will agree and some will disagree. I won’t comment on Criswell publicly. I think it’s safe to say though that if I received the public nastiness that he’s received from people with the same last name, it might well occasionally affect my behavior. To expect otherwise would be humanly impossible. I can’t comment on what goes on in the building, but in social media I think you’d have to agree some comments have been pretty repulsive. I’m absolutely sure turnover ocurrs worldwide, and sometimes it’s a positive result. Just like the turnover you desire now. You offer no proof that this is unprecedented. We’ve seen the “leaving in droves” claim previously when it supposedly applied to teachers, only to discover that it was absolutely 100% false. We all know officers leave to go to DOE where it’s safer and pays more, as some other cities apparently do also.

          • Jack Mansfield

            In my 33 years with ORPD one sergeant left the dept to go to work at Y-12 prior to retirement. One Lieutenant left the dept. to become a chief at another department. So for three sergeants to leave not long after being promoted is unprecedented.

            And for something wild. My nephew works for the sheriff’s department in Loudon County
            Virginia. A new sheriff was elected in 2016. Upon his arrival he began to tear up the dept exactly like Akagi. As my nephew was telling me the story I told him that it sounded exactly like our chief was behaving. He then told me the guy was a retired DEA agent. I about fell out of my chair. They were both following the same play book or were twins. His dept is in an uproar…experienced supervisors leaving and officers by the droves…exactly the same as here.

            I never saw the wisdom for bringing someone who has no experience with municipal law enforcement in to run a department, especially someone from a governmental agency like the DEA…its apples and oranges.

          • Matt Bailey

            But you saw no problem with ex-chief Beams being promoted from within the ORPD to police chief and then writing a letter to the Oak Ridger about how terrible it was to name Akagi chief with no experience as a chief! And to a person I’ve spoken with, the citizens of OR feel much safer these days. Most people I speak with feel that once again, this is a personal vendetta against the Chief because he came in and cleaned house, so to speak, and demanded more from his people. This is the second time you’ve mentioned “officers leaving in droves” and I’ll address it again. It didn’t work with teachers, as that turned out to be a flat out lie by a former council member and John Houturi wrote the article here, with facts presented by the city offices. You’ve spoken about how terrible a certain officer was treated, yet he was promoted. Sorry, that doesn’t sound like a guy with a vendetta. In fact, it appears quite the opposite. To try to tie one Virginia office to the ORPD because of past DEA employment is a stretch, at best. We were told by MTAS that officers leave for more money. We’re prepared to see attrition when DOE starts hiring again…it’s the nature of the beast. I believe once we see a response from the Chief or his attorney, as we surely will, this will be exposed for what it is. I believe your comment above is the key to this whole thing … “you never saw the wisdom of bringing in someone with no experience …”. Lastly, in the sports world if you’re a head coach and only two coaches are poached from you, that’d be an insult. Your staff not moving up to a better job is an indictment of the program. So, to have only two officers leave for a better job, as you outlined, may well be an indictment of a poorly run department where people may not have been groomed for a better position.

          • Jack Mansfield

            Chief Beams is a whole other matter…he did not perform very well either. As far as “cleaning house” goes…I find that very offensive…the house didn’t need cleaning… It needed a good leader, and we didn’t one…very sad.

            The other supervisors and I did our best…heart and soul…blood, sweat, and tears…to keep things going, in spite of poor leadership, and all we desired was a good leader..and when Akagi arrived it got exponentially worse….you have no idea how heartbreaking it became.

            So go ahead believing your fairy tales if you wish.

          • Jack Mansfield

            I know what I’m talking about…Akagi is a disaster.

          • Jack Mansfield

            wow…lol…hahaha…wait til the truth comes out this time…he’s in the deepest of do do…

          • Matt Bailey

            I don’t know if I’m wrong or not, but I’ve seen absolutely nothing to convince me I am. I do remember that Mr. Criswell wanted the SSPBA to investigate, so I looked ’em up. Seems they’re a group of police officers, etc. and their group is funded by membership dues, providing services to members who pay dues. I’m sure they’re a great organization, but really …. do we even need to discuss this? No one knows what’s gonna happen going forward, but at the moment, this sure looks like old news.

        • Tracy Powers

          Seems to be a pattern with you when things don’t go your way way. You quit in 2011, you walked away in 2015….and here you are again, still spinning.

          • Jack Mansfield

            Tracy, I didn’t quit in 2011, I retired. It wasn’t a matter of “things not going my way”, it was a matter of being unwilling to go in a negative direction under his leadership, instead of a way you would expect to be lead. This was not going to happen with this man so I retired, as did many others. I was not going to work with an arrogant, obnoxious, overbearing, condescending, “little man syndrome”, abusive (in manner and language), autocratic, tyrannical leader. And most people do not like to work with someone like this, maybe you do, not us.

      • Mike Mahathy

        Matt, have you seen Bobby lately?

    • Mike Mahathy

      Look who comes back from the closet. Well it’s Mr. Mansfield will his personal vendetta.

      • Jack Mansfield

        It is not a vendetta sir. I grew up with three sisters younger than me. I defended them and many others from bullies. This is how I see Akagi…he is pure bully…using his position to oppress others…I took care of business for my sisters and friends, how could I do less for my friends who are having to endure this hostile work place. It is why I became a police officer…to take care of those who could not defend themselves.

    • Tracy Powers

      Everything you wrote has been told to you. Unsubstantiated gossip, just like in 2015. The last time you were a witness to anything regarding Chief Akagi was 2011.
      .

      • samuel hopwood

        Let’s see if I have this right. Isn’t this the second time he has been placed on leave since he has been chief? I don’t recall any of the previous chief’s having this problem. But then, I’ve only lived here since 1944.. Oh well…

        • Matt Bailey

          Sam, I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. The city failed to investigate the wild claims of an uninformed council member and her following. Three OR citizens go to Blount Co. and find out they’re all wrong, a fact backed up by numerous law enforcement and legal groups. Said council member continues to claim they’re all wrong and she’s right. Council decides to spend the money with the only qualified group the state has, even though we’re in a continual budget crunch. Report finds chief favorable, that officers really want more money. John Houturi finds out further wild claims are just as false,that city employees aren’t leaving in droves…even while a certain web site of a certain council member refutes what same council member publicly claims elsewhere. ALL of this was started by anonymous emails from “Bobby Hill”. Most of the city now knows who that likely is. And now …. wait for it … more anonymous communication. You do recall all of this right? I can’t keep giving you these refresher courses for free!!

          • Tracy Powers

            Attention seekers with selective memory, Matt. What are you going to do?

            I just reread the rambling diatribe full of exaggerations, half-truths (at best) and vitriol regarding Chief Akagi that Mansfield wrote in January 2015. It’s clear he was put in his place early on, didn’t like it, quit (he really showed them!) and has held a grudge ever since.

            I asked Chief Akagi 3 years ago about many of those accusations, ie., the shotguns, holsters and the trip to Memphis to name a few. After hearing the Chiefs side of it, it was clear where Mansfield was getting much of his skewed information. The same city council member that lied about these and many other accusations. Mansfield himself said, “Since that time (his retirement) I have kept, in a limited way, contact with officers that are currently or were recently employed with the department.”
            Limited.

            Interesting to note, when I informed Baughn and the rest what he said, they didn’t want to hear it and continued with the false allegations.

          • Tracy Powers

            I don’t recall the Chief being put on Admin before. I do recall Baughn suggesting it back in 2015.

      • Jack Mansfield

        Yes, it’s been told to me…over and over and over for 7 years by people I know and trust to tell me the truth established by working relationships for over 3 decades…what do you have to make your conclusions….nothing.

        • Tracy Powers

          I have the MTAS report, the same people spouting the same nonsense they did 3 years ago. I remember what was said and who said them. I knew they were lying and the report came to the same conclusion.

          I have spoken to police officers in this town and not one of them back your claims up. Not one. They shake their heads and say you have to know the type people and the motives these claims are coming from. In other words people with an obsessive vendetta.

          • Jack Mansfield

            Nothing, I repeat nothing, in the MTAS report said anyone was lying. The officers on the street are not going to come out and tell you what is going on inside the department. They know if they want to keep their jobs they better not say anything truthful about the chief. How silly could you be. And these officers are not stupid…they know you are an ally to the chief…do you think for a second they would tell you the truth. You have to be kidding.

            Even if you came up to me while I was working there I would not tell you anything….police do not talk to citizens about the internal problems…it is taboo. I had to bite my tongue many times over the years.

            But I am outside the department and can speak freely. If it was just run of the mill problems I would not speak of them, but this is a far more serious problem. But you will never see it.

          • Matt Bailey

            I’m sorry Jack, but this time you’re just dead wrong. A few members of the force have spoken to citizens of OR while on duty, while in uniform, to people they thought were sympathetic to them. And found out differently. And some were still promoted! This time, you’re just plain wrong. Now, why anyone would be stupid enough to do so, I can’t speak to that, but I can verify that it’s happened. And as always, in any organization, you’re not going to have 100% buy-in with all supervisors. Now, the Chief has been out of the building for a few weeks now, right. These men have had every opportunity to go speak with HR, I would assume, since apparently he can’t be around the building. You’re speaking as if it’s the entire force who feels this way. Yet not one signed his name…not one who’s retiring, etc. We saw some names in the now infamous anonymous letters and from what I hear, not everyone cried when some of them left. As you would expect in every organization. Each night, it becomes clearer that there’s a vendetta that started with the fake Heitman fiasco, the teachers leaving in droves (they weren’t), and continued every time the council voted 6-1 on most issues. Time to move on.

          • Tracy Powers

            I am far from silly. Believe it or not, I do have a few friends on the police force. Not everyone is as scared as you claim, besides, the truth has nothing to be scared of. In other words, the truth isn’t taboo. Anonymity is another matter.

            Regarding your claim as to the Chief’s nickname in the DEA, would you like to know what your nickname was back in your day?

          • Jack Mansfield

            LOL…there are very few left who would have any ideas about any nicknames for me….in my early years I was called the “turnpike terror” because of my enormous traffic enforcement. I have made no statements here regarding the chief’s nickname. He did get one handed down from the DEA…I guess that’s the one you are referring too.

            If I had a nickname before I left I would hope it would be something like: “firm but fair”. Most of the officers there now do not know me or worked for me. I doubt there is a true nickname for me…I would have known about if it were so.

          • Jack Mansfield

            On second thought….Sgt. Tedford used to call me “Herman punster” because of all my puns.

      • Jack Mansfield

        P.S. And in the 3 1/2 months I was there after Akagi arrived I saw more than enough evidence to show this man was a wolf and only cared about himself or those he could use to further his agenda to destroy this department….and he has done a very good job of it.

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