Posted: 3/19/03

Trio will direct police during Chief Temteís absence

Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

As a result of Police Chief Mike Temteís suspension on March 3 and with officer Tom Sonnen to report soon for active duty with the National Guard, the Wyoming police department is short-handed.

After a series of meetings this month, city officials have decided that during Temteís 60-day suspension, Fire Chief Dennis Berry will assume the interim role as director of Wyomingís Emergency Management System.

Together, Sgt. Scott Dexter, Mayor Vern Haag, and City Administrator Dennis Coryell will share direction of the police department during the chiefís absence.

This temporary chain of command was addressed in the monthly police report submitted to council.

In a March 5 letter to Sgt. Dexter, Mayor Haag referring to emergencies said ìyou, I, and Administrator Coryell will be in charge and perform specific tasks by consensus.î

In his report Dexter sought clarification of ìemergency.î Recognizing there are some instances where a public safety officer must take action, Coryell defined an emergency as an event that requires ìabsolute, immediate attention.î

In an instance demanding an immediate response, Dexter is to act as he believes necessary, then notify Haag and Coryell as soon as possible.

In his letter, Haag also directed Dexter to suspend ongoing police investigations in the city.

Reports will still be taken, but investigations will be on hold. This will keep as much manpower focused on local patrols and enforcement, as a time when there are fewer officers, city officials said.

Haag said he was glad Dexter had asked his questions.

Council member Sandy Standridge is seeking information about where the city stands on the grant that helped the city hire new officers recently.

One question is whether the grant is transferable to another officer. To date no new hires are anticipated during the period when Temte and Sonnen are not available for duty.

More questions

The local Mothers Against Drunk Driving office has received a large number of calls from citizens apparently claiming the Police Department Supplemental Fund had been taken away from the department.

Esther Ashley, a MADD employee, had been asked to visit a council meeting to get more information about these calls.

Council member Lynn Koalska told Ashley the council had requested the department account for the funds, but had not changed their designated use. She suggested Ashley contact the department office for further information.

A grievance has been filed by Temte regarding his suspension this month. The grievance will involve between four and eight weeks of negotiations.

The city will abide by what the outside arbiter decides, officials said. The process will cost the city money which could otherwise be used for city services.

In a budget related topic, the city council has scheduled a special budget planning meeting for 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 25 at Wyoming City Hall.

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