News outlets from Oklahoma City to New York City had it almost right. The headlines read the entire Geary police force quit, which is close. There was a vacancy from an officer’s resignation a month ago, and a second officer in training decided while still at the academy to go to work at another town after graduation, rather than returning to Geary.
That left four current officers who did resign. There are two reserve officers and one full time officer who hasn’t completed the hire packet.
So, what would cause nearly an entire force to walk out?
Sitting chief J.J.Stitt had no information as to why the other officers resigned. His first day as interim chief was Oct. 31, the same day as the resignations.
Former Geary Chief of Police Alicia Ford said she had gone to the city council repeatedly to ask for help for her officers. She had been asking since July, and council seemed to turn a deaf ear.
The department’s budget was slashed from $900,000 to $300,000. Some officers were working up to 160 hours in a pay period, twice the normal 40-hour week.
Then there came the day when the mayor, Waylon Upchego, asked the department – Ford didn’t say specifically which officer – to change a report.
Everyone on the force refused. Shortly after, Upchego told Ford there was a hiring freeze on until after an audit was completed. He also told do the audit and investigate the police department.
Still, she wasn’t worried. “I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was doing my job.”
Stitt had been hired to come in and assist with training the force in leadership, compliance, policy and procedure. He stressed he was not hired to investigate the department. However, the Geary officers – having been told Stitt was there to investigate them were not amenable to training.
Ford also detailed the mayor’s request that the PD accept responsibility for a leaked Social Security number. Again, Ford refused to comply, saying the leak did not come from her department.
In October she asked for an emergency meeting, knowing that her officers were getting worn out from the long hours and worn down because there was no relief in sight. The city had refused to hire a certified applicant – after having told Ford, she said, that they would hire him -- on the grounds that an audit had to be completed first. The special meeting was flatly refused.
The Oklahoma State Auditor said Monday there was no pending forensic audit on the City of Geary, nor had one been requested.
Stitt also said he has spoken to some of the officers who resigned, but all have been absorbed into the Blaine County Sheriff's Office.
Since Oct. 31, two council members posted on social media they were resigning. However, by statute resignation requires a written document and it is unclear whether Rocky Coleman and Kristy Miller have delivered or mailed such a document to the city.
A bombshell went off Monday when the mayor, Upchego, walked into city hall and resigned, effective immediately.
That did nothing to appease Ford. “The corruption is at city hall. The source is gone, but it is still there.”
One Geary council person remains seated, but the longtime city clerk has also recently resigned, going to work at a Weatherford college.
So where did the resignations leave the city in terms of police protection?
“We want to assure the community that law enforcement needs are being met at a high and reputable level,” Stitt said.
His No. 1 priority was filling the vacancy for a school resource officer. That position was previously filled by Jonathan DeJesus.
“We need law enforcement at the school,” Stitt said. “The kids are not at fault.”
He met with Geary superintendent Sean Buchanan, who said he and the school would greatly prefer to retain DeJesus. Stitt has been in touch with the resource officer and asked him to reconsider his work with the school. “If it’s possible, we’d like to bring him back.”
That hope came to fruition Monday night at the Geary School Board meeting when the board exited its contract with the city of Geary and instead entered one with the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office. This allowed DeJesus to remain on the job at the school, working with the same kids. The only thing to change was the uniform.
When the vote came in unanimously, DeJesus had difficulty controlling his emotions.
“I’m happy to get to take care of Geary’s most vital resource, its children. I’m confident that Sheriff Daugherty will continue to provide the training and the tools to do my job better.
“I’m thankful to the board and Mr. Buchanan and the administration for believing in me, and I’m honored to remain a Bison,” DeJesus said Tuesday.
And while Stitt is a bit frustrated by the error in reporting the situation in the media, there has been a silver lining.
“Applications are pouring in,” he said. The media coverage has sparked a tidal wave of interest in the officer positions, and for police chief as well.
The interim chief is actively helping the city look for his replacement. “I told the city I would help it find good quality people. It doesn’t need more problems.”
And why did Stitt decide to stay when the other officers resigned?
“I didn’t want to leave. I had been hired to help make it better. It didn’t set right with me to leave. I’m still trying to make it better.”