August 18, 2008
Mr. Kenneth L. Chandler
City Manager
801 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Dear Mr. Chandler:
After careful deliberation, I hereby submit my resignation as Interim Chief of Police to be effective September 1, 2008.
I would remind of our several discussions over recent weeks during which I expressed concern with certain issues, one most notable being last year’s decision to fund the sheriff’s office for law enforcement purposes. I expressed the view that statue, in essence, established the police department in cities as the primary law enforcement body and that this police department with 260 positions was the embodiment of that intent. I opined further, that the present condition had surfaced the unhealthy state of the two departments competing for funds during each budget cycle. I would emphasize that the police department cannot compete with the political ramifications of this.
Despite my concerns, I was willing to consider extending the term for the interim appointment as we discussed, that we might have the benefit of a reasonable time line for the necessary reform and reorganization of the police department as study might justify. And yet, the cumulative effect of recent events caused me to pause before making a firm commitment. The tipping point came this past Friday afternoon.
At mid-afternoon, Interim Assistant Garrett Shelton brought to my attention an e-mail he had received from Tim Oksman, City Attorney. This message directed Shelton to conduct a survey throughout the several units of the department in an effort to determine and report to Mr. Oksman on the matter of the Sandy Point controversy: that Mr. Oksman had been directed by council to obtain this information. The information requested was not isolated to legal issues regarding the matter but specifically mentioned public safety issues. A matter of weeks ago I had directed a finite examination of this very issue and had submitted the findings to your office. The conclusion of this finding was that placement of the gate in question had not created a public safety issue and when Mr. Moody asked about this later I advised him as much without going into detail. I advised him also that a report on the matter had been submitted to your office. Returning to Mr. Oksman’s message, I would have preferred this have been submitted to your office. Returning to Mr. Oksman’s message, I would have preferred this have been directed to me for appropriate action. Moreover, it was a further affront that he did not transmit to me a copy of his message to Shelton and it was puzzling that he did not copy your office. Apparently, Mr. Oksman was given reason to handle the matter in the fashion that he chose.
I had concluded early on that regardless of an earnest commitment to this City to remain and correct any problems with the police department, when I sensed that support was eroding for me from any quarter, I would return to retirement. That occurred with the cumulative pattern of events and Mr. Oksman’s handling of the instant issue.
Please know that I have thoroughly enjoyed the association with you and your staff and consider you among the best of city administrators with whom I have served. I have every respect for your abilities and am convinced that your decisions as these have related to police administration and public safety issues are those which you have considered best for the City. I express these thoughts from the vantage of over forty years in association with public administrations at the state and city levels.
Sincerely,
William F. Corvello
Interim Chief of Police
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Stop bashing Sheriff's Office cont.
sheriff's deputies assigned to law enforcement duties on the streets are required by state law to have the same training as a city or county police officers. Training should not be an issue here, if it is the deputies should complete a field training program with the PD. This would also improve working relations between the departments. Everyone should thank the Interim Chief of Police for a job well done and work together to make Portsmouth a safer city and stop all the finger pointing.
Well said, Kevin Roper!
Well said!
Stop bashing the sheriff's Office
Every police department in the country is understaffed. The reason that the sheriff's enforcement unit is succesful is that they can concentrate all their efforts on enforcement in the trouble neighborhoods without having to leave and answer 911 calls and other complaints like the police officers would have to do. If the city hired ten police officers to do this job, they would most likely be pulled away to fill in for the areas where the department is short handed. The sheriff is not trying to take over law enforcement in Portsmouth but only trying to lend a helping hand. Like it or not, the sheriff and his deputies have full arrest powers. Read Virginia code 19.2-81 and the sheriff's arrest powers are listed at number 2 under the state police and above the city and county police officers. This issue is not about the Portsmouth Police Department vs. the Sheriff's Office. It is about law enforcement officials working together to make Portsmouth a safer city. I hope the sheriff continues to enforce the laws of the City of Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia with or without funding from city coffers. Sheriff's deputies assigned to law enforcement duties on the streets are req
And yet...
...it is indisputable that crime in Cradock has dropped 40+ percent over this time last year WITH the additional efforts of the Sheriff's Department.
As a resident of Cradock, I don't care WHO gets rid of the crime and gangs as long as it's done!
Too many chefs spoil the soup
We don't need 2 agencies working the street, or "competing" for funds. The city was set up years ago with the SO working the jail, civil process, and courts, and the PD handling enforcement. That's how it should still be. If the powers that be want to go to the SO handling all of it, that's fine, just have it that way. It won't work the way it is now. The things we have to tolerate as citizens of Portsmouth are outrageous. From the traffic circle, to Holley's ridiculous comments, to this mess, and NOBODY is held accountable. It really makes me sick that the only person benefitting from it all is Sheriff Watson.
Let me get this correct...
The City Manager asks the Chief to do a study on the gate. He does it and submits it to the City Manager. Study shows no impact on public safety.
Mr. Oksman hires outside lawyers to do the work that his office is supposed to do and gets a raise in pay. Then he has a study of his own done on the closed gate which is not his job. Makes me wonder who didn't like the first report. City Council has nothing to do with this, it is just plain back door good ole boy politics.
But, you can thank the big Persimmon for getting the Sheriff Dept. doing police work. This was one of her big achievements to get re-elected. That is just plain meddling. Why not just hire more police? Who is guarding the prisoners while the guards are out rousting the bad guys.
Back to basics
Sheriffs Dept: employs numerous police department rejects, seized a weapon without legal standing or probable cause, seized drugs without legal standing or cause, cases dismissed in court, publicly claimed to sweep Cradock clean of gang and gang members, police department raids 5 houses in Cradock and indicts gang members with proper legal cause and procedures, law suits for improper actions by Sheriffs Dept destined in future. Get the picture! NO BRAINER Shriffs Dept. needs to be directed to stop playing police by the City Council, if not citizens need to vote change on council. Council was aware of these very concerns. Now, as usual, they claim no knowledge of any concerns. Support PD and bring Corvello back! Another no brainer!
Chief Corvello
Sounds as if we are losing an excellent Chief. City Council should step up and correct this wrong. Fund the police department - not the sheriff's with supplements. Follow the correct procedure, a public apology to the Chief and setting the record straight with Mr. Oksman and Councilman Moody. It sounds awfully disrepectful to a man of Chief Corvello's stature. I was happy to see his letter released and the praise he gave to our city manager. Undoubtedly, council would have tried to lay the plan on Mr. Chandler instead of at its door where it belongs.
Bring back Chief Corvello!