I have finished a story about whether Commissioner Mell Kuhn over stepped his bounds as a city commissioner in his dealings with Police Chief Sean Wallace. I am more interested in the politics of the situation, and that is thrust of my story.
The whole story is on the site. I have also posted a memo from Wallace to City manager Steve Archer that explains the change Wallace wanted.
I have also posted on the site an email exchange between Kuhn, Archer and Wallace.
Two different commissioners gave me the emails, so I feel that makes them public record.
HERE IS THE LINK
Below is the beginning of my story.
The role of the city commission is to set policy, and it is the role of the city manager an department heads to carry out that policy.
At what point does a commissoner's involvement become micromanaging?
That seems to be the question in the latest controversy surrounding the city commission in Arkansas City.
Police Chief Sean Wallace, along with City Manager Steve Archer, recently made a decision to change weapons that police use, and changed how they would be maintained.
City Commissioner Mell Kuhn questioned the decision and made no secret of the fact that he did not agree.
See the full story here:
Also memo from Wallace outlining change he wanted, as well as emails between commissioners, Archer and Wallace.
FROM THE ARTICLE:
ReplyDelete"Kuhn said he does not think he did anything improper."
Man, how many times must we hear this from Kuhn? Isn't this what he says after every hairbrained stunt he pulls?
“I would rather see a Smith and Wesson,” he said.
Dear Mr. pipe cleaner, please leave the decisions about which tactical weapon to carry to the people who know about such things, and who may rely on them to save their lives. Glocks are very good firearms, used by the majority of Police and Sheriff's Departments in the U.S. Smith and Wesson are simply not up to par. Maybe for target shooting, but not for tactical purposes.
I have an odd take on this it seems. Let me say first that I do not agree with Kuhn on anything I can think of other than AC is a nice place to live. I completely have issues with how he treated the developer a couple years ago at the town meeting and how he chose to behave with the whole black face incident and his statements immediately afterword.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do not see a whole lot to get bent out of shape about. Is Mel maybe going too far with the micromanagement? Should he go through the city manager instead of dealing directly with the Police Chief? I think the answer is yes to both of those. However I see this as more of Mel just being Mel. He got elected, next time we will not get my vote, but I do not see how this is quite the story it has turned into. Seems not surprising, likely honest mistakes, and consistent with past actions to me.
No I do not blame any newspapers or websites for the coverage, not much going on around here lately.
It is my duty to evaluate city spending.
ReplyDeleteI had no direct contact with Wallace, everything went through Archer as it is suppose to so can anyone tell me how that is micromanaging?
As far as this being a budget item, no, it was not, this was presented after the budget sessions.
Where did funding with “drug money” come from, Wallace claimed “other professional services” would be the funding source. The “drug money” you think there is so much of is to fund a “drug dog” and it falls way short of that.
Ether you don’t know the facts, or you have chosen to disregard them. First of all what’s not up to par? The American company; Smith & Wesson developed the Military and Police to take the place of the F92 currently in service with the US military, many police departments carry the M&P in 40 and 45just ask Mr. Ward the police rep. for Smith, his number is 281 652 6335.
Furthermore smart guy, a handgun is never considered for “tactical purposes” they are a defensive weapon. Rifles are for “tactical purposes” and Ark City PD has Smith & Wesson M-4’s.
I have made no mistake, it is called accountability.
As usual, the Traveler has a miss quote, Steve Archer never said that I was micromanaging, only Patrick and Jay said that.
Commissioner Mell H Kuhn
620 441 9339
"Furthermore smart guy, a handgun is never considered for “tactical purposes” they are a defensive weapon. Rifles are for “tactical purposes” and Ark City PD has Smith & Wesson M-4’s."
ReplyDeleteWell, Mr Kuhn, I have served on a Multi-jurisdictional "Tactical" Response Team and have been on more than my fair share of "Tactical" missions with nothing but my trusty Glock sidearm. So unless you have served, I think I would know more about it than you. The weapon doen't make it tactical, the situation does. The officer needs a weapon that is simple and reliable. The Glock is a superior weapon to the S&W. Period. No matter how many friends you have at Smith & Wesson. Besides, after S&W sold out to the liberal gun banners, I would never purchase one of their weapons.
Smith has changed owners and is changing its Lib image, most of all you are mistaken about the M&P, your Glock may be trusty but the M&P is better and will fit most hands. You are obviously prejudice against me and Smith, so ask some other cops; http://www.policelink.com
ReplyDeleteBut I don’t really care what sidearm the police carry, it’s about spending and truthfulness.
Your trusty Glock tells me that you are not ACPD, so butt out nosey bender, your dept has plenty of its own problems.
Commissioner Mell H Kuhn
620 441 9339
Actually if this is micromanaging call me guilty furthermore I will step up and do more of it. I am not a crusader I just want the truth, you sure can’t get from the Traveler and others.
ReplyDeleteThe insinuation that I was rude to that bog box developer is backwards, he lied to this town but that made no difference to some of you, makes me wonder.
Commissioner Mell H Kuhn
620 441 9339
Mr Kuhn,
ReplyDeleteThose officers know a hell of a lot more about weapons than you do. Leave them alone and let the people who know better come to the decisions about which gun their lives might rely on. This is not a place to micromanage. Use whatever weapon you like for yourself and your home, but leave the PD's choice up to the experts. Something you are not.
Go pick on the Fire Dept and their 8 thousand dollar mower if you are bored and need someone to fight.
ReplyDeleteOr, you should start weening yourself off of the power trip you are on. After all, it won't last much longer. It is kinda entertaining though. Probably sells newspapers for the Traveler you hate so much too.
A gun manufacturer is liberal ?
ReplyDeletewhat ??
OK, I am not a gun expert, but I do have concerns about the safety of the guns being used if they are 10 years old. Granted they may have not been fired in the line of duty a whole bunch, but I know enough that they practice with them. I would rather the police have guns they are more comfortable with and are dependable. Times are changing, the world is getting rougher and who knows what could happen. I agree with SG that an officer would know more about the right guns to use. On a personal stance, we should be able to protect ourselves first, but I also feel that if I need the pd, I want the officers to have the best and up to date equipment.
ReplyDeleteAlso Mr. Kuhn I am wondering why it is such a big deal if the ACPD is pulling the money from drug seizures . It is seized money so I am assuming, at this point, it is not money coming from the city budget.
LAPD Commission Gives Officers More Stopping Power, Chooses Glock
ReplyDeleteAP - The Board of Police Commissioners today gave Los Angeles police officers the option to arm themselves with lighter weight, easier-to-shoot Glock pistols.
"Quite frankly, it's just a much better weapon" than the standard-issue Beretta 9 mm, Chief William Bratton told the five-member civilian panel that establishes policy for the Los Angeles Police Department.
While Glocks are used by some specialized LAPD units, Bratton asked that the futuristic plastic-and-metal weapon be made available to all officers.
Using an annual $850 equipment stipend, officers can buy the $500 Glock that is chambered for 9 mm, .40- and .45-caliber ammunition.
About 70 percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide use Glocks, including the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Bratton, no fan of the Beretta sidearm that gave him blisters during his Academy training in Los Angeles, was head of the New York Police Department when it switched to Glocks in the 1990s.
Glocks provide greater stopping power than Berettas and are lighter than .45-caliber handguns, the LAPD's alternate sidearm.
Its other advantages include less recoil, larger magazine capacity, more uniform trigger press, simpler construction and a more ergonomic design, allowing officers with smaller hands to easily handle the gun, according to an LAPD report to the commission.
"It's an outstanding weapons system," said Commissioner Alan J. Skobin, a reserve Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy.
Officers who want to use the Glocks must take a two-day training course.
First introduced in 1983 by Austrian Gaston Glock, the pistols were used by the Austrian military and quickly became popular.
Glock Inc. USA's headquarters are in Smyrna, Ga.
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While the whole idea of getting better "stopping power" is a myth, the article is correct in that 70% of Law Enforcement agencies have gone to the Glock because it is easier to use and a better combat pistol.
LAPD got there first G Lock 10 years ago, in 40 cal, not yesterday as your misleading post indicates.
ReplyDeleteAnd tell the nice reader about having the triggers de-tuned to what is called a New York trigger, that’s about 7-8lb, the stander G Lock is 5lb, for safety reasons (to many AD’s).
Make sure you include there SWATers you know they carry Kimber mod 1911’s not G Locks.
Even so, as I have said before, I don’t care what they carry, there 10 year old H&K work just fine, it’s about money.
Commissioner Mell H Kuhn
620 441 9339
It's not about money, it's about control. Control you can't let go of, even though it is slipping farther from your grasp every day.
ReplyDeleteAnd it says in the article that some LAPD officers had been carrying the Glocks, but now they are going to them for the rest of them.
While you're googling, answer me this: What percentage of departments in the US carry Smith & Wesson?
LOL. I just looked up the new Smith & Wesson M&P and it looks almost exactly like a Glock. hahaha It looks like they know a good pistol when they see one too, that's why they copied one.
It took G Lock 15 years to get in to the US cop market, that was 25 years ago, they offered a great city program and still do. The M&P is not even 5 years old furthermore its not a copy of the G Lock it a major refinement. Don’t forget; H&K had the first “Polymer framed hand gun” and G Lock copied it.
ReplyDeleteAccording to your cut and paste old news article it takes 2 days to learn how to use a G Lock, that’s translates into 56 man days training, now what is the cost?
What is an AD?
accidental discharge, you know Mel Muzzle control something you get warned of at just about every 3 gun match you go to.
ReplyDeleteIt does not take 2 days to train on a Glock, no matter what the LAPD requires. Don't forget the LAPD is located in the Socialist State of California. If anything, the Glock is much simpler to operate that the H&Ks the Department have now. I tried shooting an H&K once and when I went to a left hand hold I dropped the magazine out the bottom because of the ridiculous place they locate the magazine release. Not very safe in a gunfight to have your magazine fall out.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, people were weary of the "plastic" gun when it first hit the scene 25 or more years ago. Nothing like it had ever been seen before, and people were cautious about it. But it quickly proved itself, and that's why it has the 70% of the LEO market now.
What is up with Kuhn calling it a "G Lock"? Is that supposed to be a derogatory term for the Glock? At first I thought it was just a type-o, but then he did it some more. And after saying that the other poster was prejudiced against Smith and Wesson. Sounds like Kuhn is prejudiced against Glock for saome reason.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever shot a Glock Comissioner? It seems you should know all the facts before starting a debate, and if you've never shot one, you are acting on speculation, or what you have heard from others, and not first hand opinion.
A lot of old timers didn't like the Glock when it came out because it was so different. Maybe that prejudice is where Kuhn is coming from?
That is one stupid post!
ReplyDelete