Saturday, January 16, 1999
Chief won't quit, so now what?
Florence could bring charges for removal
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — The fate of the Florence police chief may be in the hands of attorneys.
City Attorney Hugh Skees and Chief Paul Buelterman's attorney, Joe Condit, are talking about what happens now that Mayor Diane Ewing Whalen has asked for Chief Buelterman's resignation.
Chief Buelterman refused to resign.
“For some time, there has been a morale problem within the Florence Police Department, which has been demonstrated by a number of resignations and retirements,” Ms. Whalen said Friday.
“We are still facing the possibility of that number increasing unless some action is taken to turn the police department around.”
Chief Buelterman said he was told by the mayor that subordinates don't think he listens to them. He said he lis tens but can't always do what subordinates want.
From July 1996 through Jan. 2 of this year, at least nine officers have either retired or resigned. There are 51 sworn officers in the department.
“I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth,” Ms. Whalen said. “I'm not saying that any of these men will stand up and say this man is the only reason they left.”
Chief Buelterman, however, said he thinks that he has been misjudged and that those who resigned left for better jobs.
“My fervent hope is that Mayor Whalen and I can get to know each other and work together,” he said. “I think she's been misinformed. The whole thing gathered momentum before I ever even knew about it.”
He said he thinks he has done “an outstanding job.”
“In her mind, morale is No. 1. In my mind it is the quality of service to the public,” Chief Buelterman said.
Ms. Whalen said she has the unanimous support of city council and of the executive board of the Florence Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
To remove the chief from office, charges must be brought against him, Mr. Skees said.
The chief must then be brought before council for a hearing.
Chief Buelterman said he does not expect that will happen.
“I guess they may want to buy me out, but I hope not,” he said. “I don't like walking away from something, with the public's money in my pocket. That money would be better spent on public service.”
Chief Buelterman has headed the department since 1995, when he arrived during a controversial investigation. Several Florence officers had attended an event called the Good Ol' Boy Roundup in Tennessee. Several were accused of participating in skits that had sexual and racist content.
One officer, Bruce McVay, who is now president of the FOP, was suspended and reduced in rank for participating.
At the time, Chief Buelterman recommended that Mr. McVay resign.
“I hate to keep dredging this stuff up,” the chief said. “He's doing a great job as a police officer now. I don't think it's revenge or anything.”
Mr. McVay said his statement supporting the mayor and city council, on behalf of all 11 members of the FOP executive board, is not a personal one.
“I want to confirm that,” he said. “This is not a personal statement and not a personal issue.”
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