SHEFFIELD – Former Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray appeared before the Sheffield Civil Service Board Friday afternoon for the second day to fight his firing from the job he held for the past five years.
Fired Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray is shown an exhibit by his attorney, Tony Hughes.
Ray gave answers to each of the seven charges against him, and concluded by making an impassioned plea for the board to consider his 32 years of police work. He said he felt he could still work with the Mayor, City Council and the citizens of Sheffield.
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Sheffield Mayor, Ian Sanford brought the Civil Service Board action against Ray.
The session began with Mayor Ian Sanford returning to the stand to continue his testimony. Sanford answered questions regarding the qualifications of the Civil Service Board members. Despite some irregularities in the board policies regarding appointments, it was confirmed that the current board is properly appointed and qualified to continue the proceedings.
In explaining the charges, Mayor Sanford indicated the basis of the complaint is that the Mayor and City Council have not been able to make and maintain any type of relationship with the Police Chief.
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Grey Ray listens to testimony against him by Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford.
The most serious of the charges was that Ray failed to implement an E Citation System, a computerized program that would allow officers to make background checks and issue citations from their police cars. The council had asked Ray to put the system in place over two years ago.
In response, Ray cited a lack of computer specialists within the city system, qualms about the never-ending progress and obsolescence of equipment, and the safety of his officers who would be placed in jeopardy if they were required to administer the issuing of citations from the front seat of their patrol cars. Under questioning by Sheffield City Attorney Ben Gardner, Ray said he felt he was more concerned for the safety of his officers than the Chiefs of the surrounding cities and the State Troopers who have had similar systems in place for several years.
When asked if he had asked the Council for help with resolving computer issues, Ray admitted that he had not asked for help.
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A television camera from a Huntsville station is focused on the testimony. This case has garnered widespread attention in Alabama.
The second charge claimed the Chief failed to respond to complaints concerning the driving of some Sheffield Police Officers.
Ray said the department has a complaint policy, but that no complaints had been filed against specific officers. He said he had heard the allegations, and had begun sending some patrolmen to a driving course for police officers. He said 10 officers had attended, and that he had planned to have the remaining patrolmen attend in the future. He said he had been fired before being able to complete the program. Ray added he had not informed the City Council about his action, but mentioned that the patrolmen on the force drive about 400,000 miles each year, and have had only one accident since he has been Chief.
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.The third charge was that requested incident reports had not been furnished. Ray’s response was that he had provided reports for a time, but quit because he was never quite sure what was wanted. He said there was also a great deal of paperwork involved, and there was potential for confidential information to be accidentally released.
The fourth complaint was that the Chief failed to attend neighborhood meetings in District 4 regarding illegal activity in the district. He testified that he had attended a meeting at the Michael Center that had “gotten out of hand.” Ray said that some people at the meeting had become accusatory, and made personal attacks. When he spoke to the Mayor the next day, he was told attendance was voluntary. In earlier testimony Mayor Sanford with Ray’s attorney that this charge should have been dropped.
The Civil Service Board hearing was attended by many off-duty Sheffield police officers. The officers told The Quad-Cities Daily that they were there in support of Former-Chief Ray.
The fifth complaint was that Chief Ray gave an inadequate response to reports of drug, gambling, and prostitution in District 4. Chief Ray responded that he had formed a two-man Vice & Narcotics Unit, and that 35 or 36 indictments had been issued by the Colbert County Grand Jury in connection with their efforts. He said the city has also acquired a dog trained in Narcotic Detection. He admitted he had not informed the City Council of his actions.
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Former City Council Member, Janet McCleary watched proceedings with Mayor Ian Sanford on the first day of the hearing.
The sixth charge was an inadequate response to the report of a potential crime involving a residence for sale. Although it was never reported to the citizen making the complaint, Ray testified it was checked out with officers arriving at the location within three minutes of the call. There was no criminal activity at the location, but nothing was reported back to the complainant, City Councilwoman Janet McCleary.
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The final charge was that Chief Ray responded falsely to a complaint about a particular Officer. According to testimony, the Officer had arrested several people, and was punished for his alleged misconduct. The Chief said a video of the arrest was reviewed, and that the officer was suspended for a week. According to Ray, the suspension was to be held in abeyance if the officer agreed to anger management classes and a period of probation. Chief Ray said as part of the punishment, charges in 10 other cases were dismissed.
He also said the Mayor and Council were not informed about the punishment of the officer.
The Civil Service Board Chairman Franklin K. Brown said the board would review the testimony and would respond to both parties in writing.
Read the FIRST ARTICLE ON THE CASE.
Photographs by Dick Cooper and Steve Wiggins.
