PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 19, 2021
Chris Eppley
PUBLIC SQUARE welcomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Keizertimes
A shot at city hall
City Manager Chris Eppley dis-
charged a firearm in his office at Keizer
City Hall on Thursday, March 4. The
city council has contracted with retired
Woodburn Police Chief Jim Ferraris to
conduct an investigation.
Editorial
The public should be very concerned
about this incident. It brings up many
questions that need to be answered
fully and with transparency. One of
the first questions is why there is no
police report? Was the Keizer Police
Department not immediately notified
that there was a gunshot in city hall? If
not, why not? Where does the resposibil-
ity lay?
Generally the discharge of a firearm,
accidental or not, results in an admin-
strative leave of the person responsible,
pending an investigation. What is the
public to think when the manager of
their city is allowed to remain in office
after such an egregious act?
It is a violation of the law that pro-
hibits the firing of a weapon wthin city
limits unless by a public safety officer or
someone defending themselves, neither
was the case here.
Supporters of Eppley were quick to
comment on the firearm discharge. Many
came before the Keizer City Council at
its March 15 meeting to extol the char-
acter of Eppley and his value to the city.
All this before an investigation has been
completed. Talk about putting the horse
before the cart.
Members of the city council should
not make any futher public statements,
nor solicit
public comment until
Ferraris' report has been presented to
the city attorney. The process going for-
ward needs to be clear and transparent.
A person's past good works can not lay
in the path of doing the right thing.
There are many questions that need
to be answered and the public needs to
be confident that this incident will not
be minimized. Someone could have
been killed or injured.
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To the Editor:
The city of Keizer had a bad incident
occur recently when the city manager,
Chris Eppley, discharged a weapon in his
office. The details of the incident have
not been made public yet as the city con-
tracted with an independent investiga-
tor to determine the facts. Once they are
known, the council will have to make a
decision as to what to do. The law is very
clear that a firearm is not to be discharged
within the city, let alone in city hall.
The city council should treat everyone
the same way. If a subordinate did what
the city manager did, they would be fired
on the spot. The same should apply to
him. He must be fired.
There are several things in Eppley’s
favor:
Chris Eppley has been an outstand-
ing city manager with integrity and he
has been instrumental in guiding the city
through several difficult times. He has
made very few mistakes. Eppley worked
on urban renewal, getting the new civic
center built and Keizer Station completed.
He has assembled an efficient staff and
team to carry out city business. It would
be a serious blunder, in my opinion, to
totally lose a dedicated employee because
he made a foolish (dumb) mistake.
My solution would be to hire him back
after three months with a substantial
reduction in salary and benefits. I think
that would be just.
Bill Quinn, KEIZER
Same rules for everyone
To the Editor:
In the matter regarding Keizer City
Manager Chris Eppley, submitting my
own letter to each councilor and speak-
ing before council on March 15, it became
quite apparent that this is being consid-
ered a popularity contest of sorts.
We are not here to discuss the personal
or moral character of the Keizer city man-
ager. We are not here to play favorites or
accept faults as a friend might. We are
here to discuss the fact that an employee
of the city willfully broke rules by bring-
ing a firearm into a city-owned building,
resulting in an accidental discharge.
I may be ignorant to work policies in
the public sector, but in the private sector,
it often does not matter how well liked an
employee is or how well they perform their
job, if certain policies and ethical guide-
lines are not adhered to, there are conse-
quences. Often those consequences lead
to termination, regardless of job perfor-
mance, likability, and other personal mat-
ters outside of the contract of employer
and employee.
In my time, I have witnessed many a
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Letters
good person, top performer, and/or well-
liked employee make an egregious mis-
take or ethical mishap. Guess what? They
were not above the consequences of their
actions. Despite all the great things about
their character, the employer still made
them beholden to the policies and ethical
guidelines established.
Everyone should be held to the same
standard. I am sick and tired of seeing
rules apply to most but not some. It is
not right. It is not equitable. If the city
will allow this, what else will they allow?
Are others now able to carry a firearm on
city property? If the firearm accidentally
discharged, they should suffer no conse-
quences, correct? No? Hmm.
Alicia Itzaina, KEIZER
Gun shot
To the Editor:
To no ones surprise, the Chris Eppley
firearm fiasco has turned into a politi-
cal fire fight. The indignant left calls for
Eppley’s dismissal. The arrogant right
says, “no harm, no foul." In between some-
where is the appropriate penalty for the
“accidental” discharge of a deadly weapon
in an occupied public building.
In my opinion, Eppley is no longer
qualified to have a concealed carry permit,
and had he been other than a high ranking
public official that license would already
have been revoked. But, that’s only my
opinion and the investigator will have to
determine if Eppley’s “distracted while
gunsmithing” plea let’s him off the hook.
Finally, and again only my opinion,
there must be a consequences for what
could have been a deadly lack of attention.
Dismissal is probably too much, “extreme
sorrow” is certainly not enough.
Martin Doerfler, KEIZER
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