Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Resident Questions Police Dept. During Meeting

Gurdon's Police Department was questioned again at the Gurdon City Council meeting, Monday, Nov. 13.

However, the questioning was done by local resident Jimmy Garner, and not the council.

Garner asked if the petition presented at the October council meeting wasn't illegal as many who had signed it didn't live inside the city limits.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said it wasn't illegal and hadn't been recognized by the council, adding a large number of those who signed didn't live in the city.

This drew a response of "not true," from Gurdon City Marshal David Childres.

Garner asked the council how the police could be controlled and the job done right if the department's leader wasn't appointed.

Smith said the marshal answers to the people.

Garner said there's no police protection in Gurdon now, and asked what the people were supposed to do for two more years. He asked what could be done to get the council to reconsider changing from a marshal to police chief.

He was told any citizen can make such a request and bring it before the council.

"I'm expressing my concern," Garner said, "there's no one patrolling the streets."

"That's a lie," Childres said. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to it."

Police officers, Garner said, can only be found at Calley's service station or at home.

This brought a response of, "you're a troublemaker and have never liked either me or Don," from the marshal.

Garner retaliated saying he had talked to David and Don, but got nowhere. His concern, he said, was to make sure no children got killed going to school, adding there are no officers in the school zones when students come and go in the mornings and afternoons.

He also asked how many tickets the police department had written in the past month.

"That's what this is about," Childres said. "The note you (Smith) left on my desk."

Childres said officers are at Gurdon High School in the morning, but not by Garner's house. "I'm not here to argue."

"I'm here to get the truth," Garner said.

"People like you are why nobody wants to be on the council," Childres said.

The two went back and forth until Smith reminded them all comments needed to be addressed to the council, as this wasn't the place for personal discussions or arguments.

Childres said he would defend the police department, as much had been said that wasn't true. "We'll keep doing what we do and not change because of what you said," he told Garner.

The GPD, he said, doesn't issue many speeding tickets, and only gives verbal warnings.

Smith said the GPD report from January through August shows 251 tickets had been written.

Councilman Phillip Giles said if Garner feels this strongly, then it needed to be looked at so the council could do what's best for the city.

Most people, Garner said, are afraid to come to the council or let their opinions be known because they don't want to be harassed.

He continued saying the city needs some way to control the GPD or Gurdon won't grow.

Council member Mickey Jones said she called a lot of people in Ward 1, and they were in favor of keeping things as they are, not changing from a marshal to police chief.

She then told Garner he should get a petition showing the majority want the change, then the council would vote accordingly.

Smith pointed out it isn't the responsibility of the citizens to do the council's job.

Jones' other suggestion was a special election.

Once again, Smith stepped in saying there is a statute on the books giving the council the authority to make such a change. A special election, he said, could be a solution, but isn't necessary as the city's governing body can make the change if enough people ask for it.

Garner, who wasn't at the October meeting, said he missed the gathering intentionally as he didn't want to argue with as many people as were there.

He said the police need to be on patrol more with their presence showing the people they're working.