I wonder if the citizens of Cumberland know that they are paying for the gasoline and related expenses for the new police chief to drive a city cruiser from his home in Leslie County to Cumberland each day. I observed him coming to work on today travelling on U.S. 119 from Harlan.

I don't have a problem with the officers taking a cruiser home if they live in the Tri-City area, but Leslie Co. is a little much!

I was amazed that the City of Harlan let officers drive cars to their homes in Benham and Lynch a few years ago.

This should not be streched into an issue of Deputy Sheriff's or KSP, as they have responsibilities county-wide or state-wide.

Simply put, driving a city police cruiser to your home in another county 40 + miles each way is wasting tax payers money.

If he wants a job in Cumberland, move, we need more residents to help pay city bills.

No kidding...and Leslie County means that officer has to make a double crossing of Pine Mountain daily, and with gas prices at $1.03 a liter ($3.899 a gallon), that's not exactly saving money for Harlan County, either.

-PLH (it could be worse - at the Shell at 59 and Chimney Rock Saturday morning, their regular was at $1.12 a liter - $4.229 a gallon - and they refused to report the premium or diesel prices to gasbuddy.com)

Cumberland must have money to burn if they are paying for him to drive a city cruiser to and from work. I've never been an advocate of PD's taking cruisers home. Why should they get a free ride to work when no one else in the city or most other companies get to do that? They should provide their own transportation to and from the PD. It's not like they all live that far away- at least not all but the Cheif! I agree- that he should be required to live closer, even if it means he has to rent a place to stay in during the week while he's on duty. That's what most companies require- the City of Cumberland is no exception, nor can they afford to be.

Again our council is letting us down by not doing their job. Ordinance 272, adopted 11-3-94, City of Cumberland Code of Ethics, Section 36.08.

36.08 USE OF CITY PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL. No officer or employee of the city shall use or permit the use of any city time, funds, personnel, equipment, or other personal or real property for the private use of any person, unless the use is available to the general public, and then only to the extent and upon the terms that such use is available to the general public.

Also, in another statute, it states that any officer or employee of a city that is aware of anyone utilizing city equipment for priate purposes is also guilty.
There is no stated city policy on private use of city equipment, materials or personnel.

Well, that adds a whole new twist to it considering that one could argue... "From the time he leaves, he is on duty." But if that was the case, then he would not have jurisdiction since it's extended only in the county, therefore could not be on duty.

Also, if that was the case, then the wreck yesterday just above where Gerald Scot's used to be was a bad display. The chief pulled up to 119 from Springfield, saw the wreck was a tad outside city limits and left. At that time, there were only 2 ambulances there - and NO cops. Normal people had stopped to even help direct traffic. David Estep paced it off... the wreck was a mere 90 steps from the "Welcome to Cumberland" sign. There were two officers in the car, and ganted they might have had to go to the college to assist with the helicopter landing, but ONE of them could have came and helped secure the scene and direct traffic, imo.

Point being, if 90 steps is too far for them to respond to, Leslie Couunty damn sure be too.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Also, the original reason why Owen Petrey and Jeremy Allen were "let go" was because.. "The economy being bad and gas prices being high." The mayor was actually recorded saying this to Petrey when he asked why he was fired.

I don't think gas prices have gone down all that much recently... and Petrey wasn't allowed to drive his car home - and he lived in Harlan. So, to allow one to drive back and forth to Leslie County... which the new chief said was an hour one way for him... well...

Smells like a double standard to me.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Now this news is extremely disturbing to me. A police officer, the CHIEF, leaving the scene of an accident without rendering aide.. Common descency would lead most to stay there to help until additional officers arrived!! But, I thought there was some law that if you are someone qualified to render aide, and you fail to help, you could be cited. I am not positive that it is a law in Kentucky or not, I have only been told that by a few nurses that I know.

This is just not right, I would sugest that any time an officer in Cumberland is called they should show up and help people in need.. They have County wide arrest powers, I could care less where City limits are, I no for a fact we have had other Officers alot of times go to letcher county line or to hiram or many other places out side of city limits.. I think the former Chief Warnned that this would happen when you hire people that don't no our city or our people .

Sure there is a double standerd in cumberland, Owen and Jerremy where not let go

for any financial reasons as they were tould by the Mayor.. It was a personal

reason she just hated derrick IMO she made derrick park his police cars.. but yet

the new Chief and one new officer get to drive there cars a long distance away..

So her excuse to Owen and Jerremy that she let them go to save money doesn't fly

so if you don't think there is a double standerd think again .

I think all is ridiculous. I don't understand. Did other officers not meet he mayors every beckoning need or what? From what I understand, the hired officers met the requirements. What makes the new officers any different? How is that fair to the ones that applied in the past and got hired only to be fired?

Can somebody explain why the previous chief of police was demoted? Or let me everyone in on what actually happened.

It is my understand that the three new officers that were hired are academy-trained officers, which means they will not need time away from the City of Cumberland to attend the academy and this will save the city in the long-run.

theoutsider -

No official reason was even given for his demotion that I am aware of. Last year when he was demoted the first time, the reason given at that time was "frustration."

The day Fred started.... the mayor took him to the police station and introduced Derrick to "The new chief." Derrick was handed a paper that basically told him that his job description had changed effective on X date to patrolman.

You should come by, or call me sometime at the office.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Academy trained or not, I wouldn't give you two cents for the future of any of these police officers based upon the actions taken by the mayor in the past months. She is a ticking time bomb and could go off at any time.

Also, when a police recruit is sent to the academy for training and the city has less than 9-police officers authorized, and are engaged in the KLEFP program, the city may be reimbursed for training of the officers by making application.

I just feel sorry for the police force right now... 2 of them aren't from here, and although they may know the general area, they are not familiar with Cumberland or its people. The other two must feel prety slump-shouldered right now... being the last two on the force, and now the veteran (K. Raleigh) has only been there 2 years - that's not his fault. Cumberland has had their fair share of good cops, and many have been run off, which is a shame.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Don't want to sound like Loretta and tell people to get out their dictionary or take a course in journalism, but I wonder if the people voting in the current poll understand the definition of the word "effective". Some of those council members that are receiving high votes don't even show up for meetings, however, they arn't missed until they do show.

What I am wondering is how Kathy Dixon is winning. For those who have voted for her, please, by all means, speak up and tell us why you feel she is the most effective council person we have right now.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Don't put your faith in polls such as these. Like most of us, I am sure she has a lot of relatives.

In regards to using Cumberland city vehicles....
SECTION 8, Code of Ethics, Ordinance No. 272[/color]. "No officer or employee of the city shall use or permit the use of any city time, funds, personnel, equipment, or other personal or real property for the private use of any person, unless: (1) the use is specifically authorized by a stated city policy (No stated city policy has ever existed). (2) the use is available to the general public." (which it is not, only a few selected city employees may use vehicles for private purpose).

SECTION 21, Penalties.
"(A) Except when another penalty is specifically set forth in this ordinance, any officer or employee of the city or any city agency who is found by the Cumberland Valley Regional Board of Ethics to have violated any provision of this ordinance shall be deemed builty of a civil offense and may be subject to a civil fine imposed by the Board of Ethics not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) which may be recovered by the city in a civil action in the nature of a debt if the offender fails to pay the penalty within a prescribed period of time.

(B) In addition to all other penalties which may be imposed under this ordinance, any officer or employee of the city or any city agency who is found by the board of Ethics to have violated any provision of this ordinance shall forfeit to the city or the city agency an amount equal to the economic benefit or gain which the officer or employee is determined by the Board to have realized as a result of the violation.

(C) In addition to all other penalties which may be imposed under this ordinance, a finding by by Board of Ethics that an officer or employee of the city or any city agency is guilty of a violation of this ordinance shall be sufficient cause of removal, suspension, demotion, or other discliplinary action by the executive authority of the city or city agency, or by any other officer or agency having the power of removal or disclipline."

Somewhere in the Code of Ethics, statutes, or Attorney General's Opinions, there is a statement to the effect that any officer or employee that has knowledge of or permits the use of public property for private use is also guilty and subject to the same penalties. I will locate this legal clause at a later time.

Since this subject has been discussed openly in council meetings, the mayor who permits such use of city property and the council are both aware of the situation and are now subject to penalties as prescribed by the ethics ordinance and as monitored by the Cumberland Valley Area Development Board, Mike Patrick, telephone 606-864-7391.

If police cars are being used for off duty or personnel use,it is wrong and costing the Tax Payers Money.. I read this on another forum written by former Mayor Carl Hatfield Citizens of Cumberland reed it carfully and demand answers from the mayor and council

Rubic, I agree.

The pen is mightier than the sword.