To begin, the current mayor has completely disqualified himself as someone who should be involved in the discussion. Voters ignored the accurate warnings in 2010 that Mike Martin was running for mayor mostly to "settle scores" arising from his judicially-reviewed, justifiable 2007 forgery arrest.
Martin's persistent, disgraceful treatment of the rank and file police officers is STEEEE-RIKE ONE. Because of his hacking of police department computers, meddling in day-to-day operations and complaining about nonsensical matters like allowing officers to eat dinners at area restaurants, get their cruisers washed, make coffee and use paper towels, Martin has run off all but two of the fine police officers he inherited on January 11, 2011.
When it was revealed that Martin was lying about long-standing, secret plans to disband the local police department to outsource coverage to any other agency that would cooperate, the tiny tyrant took STEEEE-RIKE TWO.
When Martin wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on lawyers and legal fees to intentionally-and wrongfully-embarrass and terminate the long-serving leadership of the police department, the diminutive dictator took STEEEE-RIKE THREE right down the heart of the plate. Heeeeeee's OUT!
Even people on the distant periphery now post on the social networks that Martin allowed his "personal feelings" to guide his actions over the past nearly-four dreadful years. We agree with them.
Okay. So what does need to happen? Well, a new mayor will have some heavy lifting to do beginning in January, 2015. This new mayor will have to reach out to the County and neighboring municipalities to nurture the long-standing concept of MUTUAL AID that has been used and abused by current Mayor Mike Martin.
Then, the new mayor will have to reach out to those elected to council on November 4, 2014 who truly want to participate in a serious discussion about the correct manpower level for the local department. That will be hard work as well, It simply cannot be driven by false premises, previous grievances or a desire to appeal to some group off folks who have long-standing axes to grind, A serious, sober discussion of this extremely important issue is an absolute must.
Remember, the very costly financial burden of the Frankfort-mismanaged retirement system must be factored in to the discussion, But, so must the very real-and totally ignored by Martin-safety needs of the residents be considered, It's going to be an incredibly difficult job.
Is eight police officers the correct number? Is it the current five that the mismanaging Martin is currently fielding? Is it nine? Ten? Three? We have our views, But a new mayor and City Council will be tasked with getting that number right.
In case any of our supporters or the nay-sayers are interested, we are convinced that the mallet-headed Martin has it completely wrong. Given the size, and population of Villa Hills, we believe that a combination of full-time and part-time officers much larger than what the miniature mullah is currently fielding is in order. After all, Villa Hills ain't a cookie factory.
Also, the residents need to understand that that-the recently-screwed-by-Martin-former Police Chief Dan Goodenough was one of the first to suggest part-time officers more than eight years ago, Why? Because Goodenough was concerned about the rising cost of the State-mismanaged retirement system.
Who was one of the main opponents to Goodenough's right-headed idea? Why, that would be Mike Martin. Oh, that was before Martin was rightfully arrested for forgery in late 2007.
But after a new mayor and council makes their decision, that big decision needs to be effectively communicated to the residents. Sure, the mendacious Martin falsely promised to explain his position on police department staffing levels way back in early 2012. But the miniature mullah never followed through.
The first step is sending the dishonest Martin packing on November 4.
