By Betsy Finklea
Voters in the Town of Latta chose a new form of government changing from strong mayor to strong council on Tuesday, many making that decision thinking that terminated police chief Crystal Moore would be reinstated to her position as chief by the strong council.
However, many were in for a shock on Wednesday morning when it was learned that Mayor Earl Bullard had already hired a new chief of police for the town.
Mayor’s Comments
According to Mayor Earl Bullard, new police chief Freddie Davis was hired before the election was held. A contract was signed with Davis on June 23rd, but Davis was actually hired the week before on June 17th. Bullard said Davis who has 20+ years experience will take over as police chief on July 1st. Bullard said Davis has been given a two-year contract.
Bullard said that he has been advertising for a new police chief since April and that he received applications from Dillon County, Marion County, Marlboro County, Florence County, a retiree from New Jersey and from as far away as Maine. He said these people had experience ranging from three to almost 30 years. Bullard interviewed seven people, narrowed these candidates to three people, and then ultimately chose Davis. “I feel like he’s the man for the job,” said Bullard.
Bullard said the yes vote for strong council “is what it is,” and he does hope it turns out for the best for the town. He said he’s afraid it is not the best for the town, but it is about who is going to have the power. He said there had been a power struggle for the past 2-3 years, and he inherited “this mess.”
Bullard said some people were told that he would be gone, but he said there is no recall for mayors in South Carolina and that he is not going anywhere and plans to stay for the remainder of his term which is 3 1/2 years.
He said many people who voted did so for Moore to be hired back.
Bullard said he stands behind his decision and thinks it is in the best interest of the town.
New Police Chief Freddie Davis’ Comments
New Chief Freddie Davis was available for interview on Wednesday morning. Davis said he began his career with the City of Florence in 1994. He then went to Pamplico, where he served as interim chief and was offered the chief’s position at age 24. He thought he was too young to serve as chief and moved on to Florence County, where he was part of the Interstate Drug Interdiction team. From Florence, he went to Kingstree where he served as the K-9 officer. He had joined the military and was deployed three times and met many people and saw the world. Davis said he worked on the Presidential detail twice.
Davis left Kingstree to open a business with his brother and spent a short time out of law enforcement. He then went to Hemingway and is leaving Hemingway to come to Latta.
Freddie Davis
Davis said he looks forward to working in the Town of Latta. Davis said he is here for the Town of Latta. “I don’t see this as a mess,” he said. “I see it as a change.”
Davis said he had seen the job posting in a Sunday paper and looked at it and put it aside. Then he saw it again, looked at it and put it aside. He said some people encouraged him to go put in for the job. He said he talked to his wife and they prayed about it extensively. Then one morning his wife had a manila envelope, said she needed a copy of his resume, he gave it to her, and it was submitted. He received a call for an interview and then a couple of weeks later was called again. Mayor Bullard offered him the job and he accepted.
Davis said he has been asked if he was nervous about accepting the job, but he is not. He said he prayed about it and the way he sees it the Lord sent him to Latta and this was the was it was supposed to be.
Council Member
Comments
Council member Lutherine Williams said the citizens spoke loudly yesterday (Tuesday) and that the mayor did not have the best interest of the town. She said the mayor said he would listen to the voice of the people, and they spoke Tuesday. Willliams said the election certification is on Friday, and that the strong council form of government will be in effect on Monday morning, and things will be made right.
Councilman Jarett Taylor confirmed that council knew nothing about the hiring of a new police chief until it was released by tv media and that the council still stands behind Police Chief Moore.
Former
Police Chief Moore’s Comments
Former Police Chief Crystal Moore said that her work ethics and character speak for themselves and this should never have been about her personal life. She nor her lawyer have received a report on the grievance hearing that was held which was supposed to deal with what she said were the “bogus reprimands” not her sexuality.
She said she had requested that two members of the committee be removed, including the recreation director around which some of the reprimands dealt with.
Moore said she has worked for 23 years with dedicated service for the town and for the school district and with several agencies. She questions how one person can say what she has done for 23 years is not up to par and take away her career.
Moore said when the vote was 328 citizens in favor of strong council she was excited because she thought she would be returning to work. Essentially, she felt that the citizens voted her back into her job.
(Note: The council in favor of strong council had stated previously that if the new form of government passed that it was their intention to hire Moore back as police chief.)
“I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed,” said Moore. She said God has a plan for everyone and every thing happens for a reason.
She said she believes the mayor hired the new chief as retaliation.
“I’m crushed,” she said. She said she went from being basically hired back by the people to being fired again.
