It’s been nearly seven weeks since Port Arthur Police Sgt. Chris Billiot reportedly made intemperate remarks about Chief Patrick Melvin at a Jan. 18 meeting of the Port Arthur Police Association.

Billiot was said to have told colleagues at an executive meeting of his organization, “Chief is bleeding and we should step on his neck and cut his head off.”

Melvin interpreted those remarks to be a physical threat to himself and his family. He asked the Texas Rangers to investigate; they have apparently declined.

Billiot’s words were unfortunate, especially when revealed publicly. But the Texas Rangers may believe — we would share this belief — that the words if uttered were not meant literally, that they were no more threatening than comments made between Longhorn and Aggie fans.

In fact, it is just as easy to believe that Billiot’s Jan. 18 remarks referred to Melvin’s political standing in Port Arthur, that the chief’s “bleeding” and his “neck” and his “head” were parts of a crude political metaphor.

January has passed into February, February into March. The chief survives and we are pleased.

Despite a bumpy road in his first year-plus in office, despite continued, public contention between Melvin and some of his rank-and-file officers, we appreciate Melvin as a gentleman and we respect his background as a veteran police administrator. We appreciate the members of our Police Department, too, for brave service to the people of this community.

That’s why we think it’s time for both the association and the chief to step back from this specific point of disagreement. The chief’s appointed advisory board has made two attempts to rouse public feeling against Billiot and to call for his dismissal, the first one at a public rally that attracted nine people and the second one before the Port Arthur City Council. Neither effort has seemed to stick.

The chief himself has suggested Billiot may face internal investigation. If Melvin believes his officer broke department rules or the law, internal review might be appropriate. But if a violation occurred, the department has been slow in its review and response.

In response to recent Police Association criticism of his performance, Melvin issued this brief response to the Port Arthur News’ questions: “I am looking forward to our department healing. There is a lot of police work to accomplish in the city, our citizens are depending on us.”

We, too, look forward to the department healing. To encourage such healing, Melvin might make the first step. It’s what the bigger man does in such situations.

And that police work to which Melvin referred? There have been six homicides in this city in 2018, more than all of last year.

Let’s focus on the common objectives, and set aside the small stuff.