Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2004
Source: Jackson Sun News (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Jackson Sun
Contact:  http://www.jacksonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1482

MAKE FIRST LETTER PUBLIC

Dyer City Attorney Bill Barron erred Monday night when he allowed
former Dyer Drug Officer John Grogan to withdraw his original letter
of resignation and substitute another. The original letter should have
been allowed to become part of public record.

Trouble started when Barron was asked which letter of resignation
aldermen needed to act on. Barron originally said if Grogan failed to
pick up the first letter before the meeting started, it would become
public. Grogan arrived shortly after the meeting started.

Barron later said Grogan had to retrieve the letter before the police
report was given. However, it wasn't until an alderman began to give
the police report that someone stopped him. Barron then asked Grogan
if he wanted to retrieve the first letter.

Barron failed to play by his own rules. That means Grogan's original
letter should be part of public record.

The letter contained nothing new. Everything in it had already been
shared in an interview with The Jackson Sun.

The letter should be part of public record because it could help shed
light on problems in the Dyer Police Department. Grogan said he was
resigning because of differences he had with Chief Scott Deaver which
couldn't be resolved.

Grogan's original letter should be made public.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin