Police union, chief look to discuss concerns
Published 4:13 pm Thursday, November 9, 2017
A meeting between the Port Arthur Police Association leaders and the Port Arthur Police Chief is in the works following the association’s recent vote of on confidence.
Chief Patrick Melvin sent an email on Thursday to the association president regarding setting up a meeting. Lance Bradley, attorney for the PAPD, confirmed the email was received and that the board will be meeting in the near future to discuss meeting with the chief of police.
Earlier this week PAPA released the tally of the ballots cast by its members regarding a vote of no confidence against the chief. Eighty-five percent of the voting membership voted ‘no confidence.’
Statements released from both parties said each would be welcome to meeting to discuss concerns.
The association contends that since Melvin was hired as chief about 25 members left; taking with them many decades of experience, due to the chief’s leadership style and philosophy. A number of costly lawsuits have also come about during Melvin’s tenure as chief.
On Wednesday, the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas issued a statement in support of the PAPA’s vote.
Charlie Wilkison, executive director of CLEAT, called the no confidence vote highly unusual.
“Our officers’ focus is always about protecting the citizens and conducting themselves in a professional manner,” he said in the statement. “It takes a lot of mismanagement and misuse of position for officers to take such a bold step. Believe it or not, Chief Patrick Melvin has bosses too and they are the elected members of the city council. The mayor and council should be very alarmed and concerned that this negative atmosphere exists inside the police department. The goal of the elected leaders should be to create an atmosphere inside the Port Arthur PD where officers do not feel under stack from their own leader.”
Melvin, who was appointed in September 2016, said in his statement to the press that change can be uncomfortable and that there has been progressive, change for the good of the community and department since he came on board.
