Town To Police: 'You're Fired'

(AP)  Residents of this Central Texas city are making do without police after the City Council decided to fire the entire department.

City officials said the chief and three officers were fired over the past two months for reasons including insubordination and poor performance.

"I just hope the citizens of Troy know that we're doing what they elected us to do," Mayor Sammy Warren said. "We are not going to let that department just run by itself. We're going to have a police department to be proud of again."

The 1,400 residents of Troy, located about 70 miles north of Austin, have relied on the Bell County Sheriff's Office since the officers were fired. But the six deputies per shift also are responsible for the rest of the county's 240,000 residents.

Assistant Troy schools Superintendent Neil Jeter said he has not noticed much of a change but is concerned that in an emergency, the first call for help would be to the county.

But Robert Teer said car parts have been stolen from his auto repair shop four times in the past month, which had not happened the first seven of the eight months his business has been open.

Warren, however, said he thinks the town is safer than with the old police force.

Police Chief David Seward was fired in late August for poor performance or misconduct in the areas of department finances, record keeping, communication with superiors, supervising officers and maintaining the department office, according to a city news release.

Seward did not return phone calls for comment.

Warren said Seward is under investigation by the Bell County sheriff and the Texas Rangers. Warren said he is restricted from discussing specifics about the matter.

The city's remaining three officers were fired in September.

The city accused former officer Jack Comeaux, 59, of insubordination, disrespect and keeping an unauthorized work schedule.

Comeaux disputed the allegations and said the officers were fired without a solid explanation or just cause. They are considering suing the city.

"I worry that the citizens don't have the level of protection that they had," he said. "We know the people. We know the neighborhoods. We know which kid belongs to which house. The deputies don't have that one-on-one personal knowledge like we do."

The City Council is reviewing applicants and hopes this month to hire a new chief, who will hire three new officers.

[cantshutup]

bluestardad cracks open another beer...the foam drips onto the boxers he hasn't changed in days...he adjusts the foil antennae on his head, and tries to tune his ham radio back to the frequency where he first heard the voices...the phone rings...he drops to the floor scattering beer cans everywhere, sweat beading his forehead, the foil antennae slips again...the voices, he knows the voices are in the phone...but in his terror he can't answer it, instead he scribbles incoherently in his tablet..."they're coming for me..."

[ch3nius]

Now thats what I call a "move by the people for the people"
Kudos to the Troy City Council.

[intn1]

I think it's time a town take charge if their police force isn't doing their duties. Let it be a warning to other corrupt departments.

[mtsfn]

Reply to thursday24 -

Me Perfect....no, but if you have ever read some of bluestardad past comments you would start to realize that he is not from this world, or he is getting signals from another(thus the tinfoil comment) His conspiracy theories are getting real old and I am sick of hearing him rant. If he doesn't like it the good ole USA he should move.

[thursday24]

You guys need to go easy on bluestardad. It is very obvious that this person accidentally put his comment on the wrong page. I didnt realize there were so many "perfect" people on this earth as you two.

[tonnie45]

Bluestardad:

Did you read this article or not?
Just wondering, because nothing you wrote pertains to this article.
Get a life!!!!

[mtsfn]

bluestardad,

Do you wear tinfoil on your head?

[bluestardad]

Be Ever Vigilant. Bush and Rove will do anything to stay in power up to an including flooding key districts with fake absentee ballots tampering with electronic voting machines, and bussing in voters who are not from the districts to vote, or even starting another war with and suspending civil liberties postponing the mid term vote. There is a great possibility for this administration to tamper with the electronic voting machines to the point that very subtle differences will take place in Key races just enough to tip the vote in their favor but not enough to cause a full scale American Revolution leaving some doubt, but just enough to throw key races in the Republican Favor. Watch out for this election coup.