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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2011)
may10 2011 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community State Outlines Allegations Against Kay By Scott Laird Allegations against Vernonia Police Officer Michael Kay have been released to the public, including a 900 page report released by the Oregon Department of Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), and three letters released by the City of Vernonia, dated December 9, 2010, March 15, 2011, and April 26, 2011. The letters were sent by DPSST to the City of Vernonia and to Vernonia Police Officer Michael Kay. Vernonia’s Voice was notified the entire Kay file had been released but had not obtained a copy at press time. Kay was placed on paid administrative leave by the City of Vernonia on March 21, 2011, and remains on paid leave at this time. According to the letter addressed to Kay dated April 26, 2011, the allegations against Kay will be heard by the DPSST Police Policy Committee on May 19, 2011. Kay declined comment when asked about the investigation by DPSST into his conduct. The letter dated December 9, 2010, from DPSST to Interim City Administrator Bill Haack states that “DPSST has received information that the above individual [Michael Kay DPSST #31362] was the subject of an investigation relating to misconduct.” The letter goes on to state, “Under direction of the Oregon Department of Justice, DPSST requests any and all records relating to the above individual.” The April 26, 2011, DPSST letter to Kay states, “The Committee will review the underlying investigation and make a recommendation whether to revoke your certifications based on your conduct.” The letter goes on to state, “If their [the Police Policy Committee] recommendation is to revoke your certification...the Policy Committee’s recommendation will then be forwarded to the full Board and they will either affirm or overturn the Policy Committee’s recommendation.” The letters are all signed by Theresa King, Professional Standards Coordinator/Investigator, Standards and Certification Division of the Oregon DPSST. A letter dated March 15, 2011, from DPSST lists ten items that they have received information about concerning Officer Kay. Included in those allegations are: 1) Kay misrepresented his personal knowledge in a document he authored and submitted to the Court of whether two juveniles had completed community service. That allegation was updated in the April 26 letter to read “individuals” instead of “juveniles”. 2) Kay was untruthful with investigators when the veracity of the above document was questioned. 3) Kay was untruthful with his employer and the DPSST investigator concerning his membership in the Oregon Police Canine Association (OPCA). 4) Kay retroactively sought, obtained and presented fifteen K9 certifications to his employer that he should have known did not meet industry standards. 5) Kay obtained a K9 evaluation and report in February 2011 from an individual he knew was not a certified K9 instructor and instructed that individual to omit instances in which he or the K9 failed to perform, thus misrepresenting his actual performance. 6) During the above K9 evaluation, Kay knowingly engaged in actions that compromised the results, such as handling the narcotics and using environments familiar to the K9 dog. 7) On March 1, 2011, Kay signed a K9 Lease with the City of Vernonia and continued on page 5 inside 7 cute dresses 8 victorian mist 10 vhs prom free volume5 issue9 Vernonia Council Terminates Contract of City Administrator Burch says “Catalyst” was release of public information about police investigation By Scott laird the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) for At the May 2, 2011, Vernonia a permanent City Administrator. Haack City Council meeting, Council voted 3-2 had applied for the position as part of that to terminate without cause the personal search process. Council was scheduled to services contract with ColPac that provides for the services of Interim City Administrator Bill Haack. Voting in favor of the termination were Councilors Willow Burch, Marilyn Nicks and Kevin Hudson. At the start of the May 2 Council meeting, Council voted to remove from the agenda a staff report about an Vernonia citizens express their discontent with some investigation by the City Council members. Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training meet with the LOC representative on May (DPSST) into Vernonia Police Officer 9 th to begin to review the applications they Mike Kay. Councilor Willow Burch then have received. requested an addition to the agenda—a When the Council was polled as to review of the Personal Services Contract whether they would like the contract review for Haack. added to the agenda, Councilor Randy Haack’s contract was scheduled Parrow and Mayor Josette Mitchell voted to expire on June 30, 2011. Council had against the addition. Councilor Hudson already begun a search process through continued on page 12 Prospective Recall Petition Filed for Hudson A prospective recall petition has been filed with the Oregon Secretary of State to recall Vernonia City Councilor Kevin Hudson. Petitions are currently being circulated throughout the community. The number of valid signatures required to force a recall election is 15% of the total number of votes cast in the public officer’s electoral district for all candidates for Governor at the last election at which a candidate for Governor was elected to a full term. According to local sources the number needed to recall Hudson is 119 signatures. After it has been determined that there are sufficient valid signatures to place the recall question on the ballot, the elections official must notify the public officer in writing of the deadline to resign or submit a statement of justification. Once the election official has notified the public officer in writing, the public officer may either submit a written resignation to the appropriate filing officer or submit a written Statement of Justification that does continued on page 4 Vernonia Interim Chief Resigns--Steps Down to Sergeant One day after the Vernonia City Council voted to terminate the contract of Interim City Administrator Bill Haack, Interim Police Chief Mike Connor exercised a right in his employee agreement and voluntarily resigned his position. In a letter dated May 3, 2011, and addressed to Mayor Josette Mitchell and Interim City Administrator Bill Haack, Connor stated that he was returning to his prior position of Sergeant and resuming his membership in the Vernonia Police Association. Connor noted the ongoing investigation into a member of the department was causing stress on himself, other City staff and all their families as one of the causes for his resignation. He also noted numerous schedule adjustments and additional hours of work. “This is literally ‘House Arrest’,” wrote Conner. “As there has to be someone available to respond to calls at all times, I often can’t even leave my home during my off time.” Vernonia Police Officer Mike Kay has been on paid administrative leave since March 21, 2011, while the State conducts an investigation into his conduct, leaving only two officers, Interim Chief Conner and Officer Shawn Carnahan to cover the department. “I have personally felt a strong lack of communication and support from the City Council,” stated Conner in his resignation letter.
