Crime, pay raises for MPD officers and city employees hot topics at Montgomery’s City Council Meeting
The meeting began with good news – the council approved a fifteen percent pay raise for MPD officers who are ranked lieutenant or below, and a five percent pay raise for police captains and leadership. All city employees will also get a five percent raise.
At times discussions turned into shouting matches, and citizens who were only given three minutes to speak were cut off. Once again, crime was the main topic that Montgomery residents packed city hall to talk about Tuesday night. “The burglaries are never ending. Officers came into our building, found a man in our building, and refused to arrest him,” said Faya Rose Toure.
“I know everyone is aware, but we have a public safety crisis in Montgomery. Citizens of Montgomery do not feel safe. We do not feel informed by our leaders. Where are we on the hiring of a police chief?” said Montgomery resident Rebecca Baker.
Mayor Steven Reed attended his first city council in over a month, and he said he wants the city council to approve an additional six million a year for public safety. “I have an issue with those who would think that public safety is not a priority of mine. I believe I’m the first and only mayor who has been robbed at gunpoint in their own restaurant,” said Mayor Reed. One Montgomery man addressed the mayor directly as he said, “As it stands, we are losing confidence in this administration. Mayor, you can do better and we deserve better.”
Mayor Reed said the position of police chief has been posted for a little over a week, and a national search firm will be looking at internal and external candidates. During the last search for Montgomery’s police chief several years ago, 99 people applied for the position.
