Clayton County is considering separating its 911 operations from its police department and potentially tapping the county’s top law enforcement officer to run the emergency center.
But Clayton Police Chief Greg Porter said he will fight such a move, saying it would be a demotion and would strip him of his law enforcement authority.
Clayton commissioners are scheduled on Monday to approve a 2016 budget and appoint a director for the 911 Communication Service Department.
Chairman Jeff Turner told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday he will recommend that Porter head the 911 operation if the commission approves the plan to make 911 its own department. He said Porter is the most logical person to run the operation because he oversaw the installation of the 911 operations’ new $60 million communication system.
“To me, it makes sense that if someone has the knowledge and experience of the system to make them the director of the system,” Turner said. “It would not be a demotion. He would not lose any pay.”
But at least one commissioner is questioning the plan.
“I am at a total loss as to why you and (interim COO) Detrick Stanford would place a highly controversial resolution on Monday’s meeting agenda to remove the Chief of Police for reasons which many, including myself, consider to be retaliatory,” Commissioner Gail Hambrick said in a note to Turner on Friday. “My opinion is that you have not provided any information sufficient to support a move to force Chief Porter out of his job. I urge you to reconsider this action and withdraw this resolution. We have serious problems to address in this county.”
The resolution before the commission comes seven months after a memo emerged pointing to growing internal strife between Porter and Turner.
In the Nov. 17 memo to commissioners and then-chief operating officer Alex Cohilas, Porter accused Turner of bypassing him and giving orders directly to police department employees as well as making "questionable requests" involving police department resources. At the time, Turner said the memo was an indication that Porter didn't want to be managed and that he had a problem with Turner's management style.
An investigation was launched into Porter’s allegations. Porter declined to discuss the results of that investigation referring the matter to his attorney Lee Parks. Efforts to reach Parks on Friday were unsuccessful.
Hambrick told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I hear nothing but good things about the chief. We’ve had such success” with Porter.
She noted that the commission has to pass the county’s 2016 budget by July 1 and it has to decide what to do regarding the financially ailing Southern Regional Medical Center. “We have too many other important things right now (to deal with).”
As police chief, Porter oversees a budget of $34 million and 600 people. As the 911 director, he would oversee a staff of 60 employees.
Porter said Friday becoming 911 director would strip him of his law enforcement authority: He would no longer be able to carry a gun or have arrest powers. Porter has been with the Clayton County Police Department nearly 29 years and said he could retire in 13 months. But the outcome of Monday’s decision, he said, could threatened his ability to retire as a law enforcement officer.
“My whole livelihood may be potentially lost,” Porter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday. If the commission goes through with plans to name him to the job, he said, “I plan on fighting it because it’s wrong. It’s a disservice to the community. I’ve proven myself to be the people’s police chief. I’m going to fight it. I believe in my heart this is the retaliatory actions of chairman Turner.”
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