DoraBlog

STATEMENT BY CHIEF JOHN KING

AND HIS ATTORNEY, J. TOM MORGAN,

REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS BY

THREE MEMBERS OF THE

DORAVILLE CITY COUNCIL

This morning Chief King received for the first time a written document from the three members of the Doraville City Council stating their alleged reasons for his termination as Chief of Police at the August 6 council meeting. The allegations are an attempt to justify in hindsight their illegal termination of Chief King at that meeting. It should be noted that most of these allegations were never even mentioned during that 8 ½ hour meeting.

We will address these allegations in the order they were presented to us.

1. It is obvious that these council members have no understanding of law enforcement asset/forfeiture accounts. Every district attorney and every local police department have what are called asset/forfeiture accounts. These accounts, established by federal and state law, are comprised of monies seized from drug raids, gambling raids, and other criminal activity. The police departments retain 90% of the monies seized and the district attorney keeps 10%.

   This money, by law, cannot be under the control and direction of the local government. It is under the direct control of the head of the law enforcement agency or the district attorney.

   As required by law, Chief King established the three accounts-federal, state, and pending forfeiture-and, as required by law, had these three accounts audited by professional auditors every year. These audits are available for public inspection and were provided to the council members every year-they must just have forgotten this fact.

2. The expenditures from these accounts, including the capital expenditures, are not subject to the control or the policies and procedures of the local governing body. The expenditures are controlled by state and federal law and Chief King followed the established compliance procedures for these expenditures. If the council members want to change the way these monies are handled they need to go to the state legislature and United States Congress.
3. Currently, 911 cell phone calls within the City of Doraville are handled by DeKalb County. This has caused delay and some confusion, but the lack of response is due to a failure by DeKalb County. Chief King is working to establish Doraville’s own 911 system which will be paid for from asset/forfeiture funds.
4. The turnover rate for the Doraville Police Department is on par with the other police departments in the metro area.
5. Chief King has never falsified any public documents. Falsifying documents is a felony under Georgia law. This allegation is blatantly untrue and is libel and slanderous. Further, Chief King’s law enforcement certification has never been revoked by P.O.S.T. In fact, Chief King is a member in good standing with P.O.S.T.
6. Chief King and his department follow state laws regarding retention of all public documents and emails. Spam is routinely deleted from the server to make room for official business.
7. Councilman Spangler made an Open Record request that would cost the every day citizen over $20,000. Just because he is a councilman does not entitle him to free services of the Doraville Police Department.
8. Doraville, like other police departments throughout the country, is trying to compete for the best and most qualified police officers. Unfortunately, the City Council will have to raise salaries and benefits to make Doraville competitive with other police departments. This is a responsibility of the Council.
9. Chief King’s philosophy is to make Doraville safe for its citizens. He utilizes his officers in a professional manner. The statement that his officers are writing tickets and not on the streets is untrue and not supported by documentation that is easily obtainable by council members.

Finally, Chief King wants to thank the mayor, the other council members, and most of all, the citizens of Doraville for their outpouring of support since the council meeting of Aug. 6th. Politicians need to stay out of running police departments. This is why we hire police chiefs.

__________________________

CHIEF JOHN KING

___________________________

J. TOM MORGAN,

ATTORNEY FOR CHIEF KING