After much electronic exchange, Aberdeen Mayor Mike Bennett and the city’s administration have voiced a consensus: Police Chief Randy Rudy should stay.
Following Aberdeen’s November election when Bennett unseated Fred Simmons to win the mayor's office, the chief's future has been the subject of much speculation.
Rudy, appointed by then-mayor Doug Wilson eight years ago, appeared to become close to Simmons, who during his two years in city hall beefed up funding for the police department and got personally involved in its operations. But appearances may have been deceiving.
Since beating Simmons, Bennett, who like Rudy is a retired state trooper, had been evasive about the chief's future with the city and the future of several programs initiated during the Simmons era — a Rapid Response Team assigned to high crime areas and a nascent street surveillance camera system patterned after one in use in Baltimore City.
A week ago, Bennett said he wasn't aware of the details of Rudy's employment contract and wouldn't discuss the chief's status, saying it would be inappropriate.
In an e-mail earlier this week, however, Bennett spoke out in support of the chief and said he would like to see Rudy continue running the department.
"We talked about his being placed in a secondary position over the past two years and I assured him that I was going to give him an opportunity to run his department," Bennett wrote.
By use of the word "secondary," Bennett appeared to be referring to the Simmons/Rudy relationship.
During Simmons' two years at city hall, the chief and mayor often rode around the city together, usually with Rudy driving his SUV and Simmons carrying a revolver, for which he had a permit. Frequently, it seemed Simmons was the one in command.
During his successful campaign, Bennett promised to be a much-different mayor than Simmons and expressed his displeasure with the street camera surveillance program, and some of Simmons’ other public safety initiatives. Bennett, who still works for the state police in a civilian, administration position, made a point of saying his gun-toting days were over, an obvious reference to Simmons.
Rudy explained last week that his contract is for one-year and rolls over every February, unless rescinded by a majority council vote.
In his email, Bennett said Rudy’s contract had been renewed before the city’s election, presumably by Simmons, and will remain in effect until February 2009. The chief's salary is $95,400 a year.
Simmons said this week that he did sign a contract renewal for Rudy before his departure from city hall, but could not recall the expiration date.
The chief has expressed his desire to stay and work with the city's new administration, explaining he has no plans to retire in the near future.
City Councilman Mike Hiob said Thursday the chief’s position is safe, explaining all four council members have agreed he should stay.
"We, on the council, all are in agreement that we want him to stay," Hiob said, adding Bennett wasn't involved in those discussions.
City Manager Doug Miller sent an email to Rudy and members of Aberdeen Police Department Wednesday, explaining the chief would remain in charge of the Aberdeen Police Department.
In the e-mail, Miller referred to a meeting among police officials in which one officer asked if there would be a “regime change.”
“Let me assure you that there is no effort to replace Chief Rudy as Police Chief,” Miller wrote, adding, “It has also been clear that no Department Head’s employment status is in jeopardy.”
Bennett’s e-mail mirrored that message, asserting Rudy is not a target for removal.
"Chief Rudy is a law enforcement official whom I respect," Bennett wrote, explaining the two have had several conversations over the past month in which he expressed his desire for Rudy to stay.
Originally published in the Record on Jan. 11, 2008
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