Sneads council meeting erupts

Tempers flared as a last-minute addition to Snead’s special meeting Tuesday night almost had the city’s police chief turning in his keys.
Near the end of the meeting, council president Mike Weeks read a letter from the Florida League of Cities suggesting the council put McAlpin on administrative leave with pay, because of an ongoing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation regarding McAlpin.
“What is the urgency of this? I don’t get this, where this is coming from? This comes as a shock to me,” Chief John “Burt” McAlpin said.
On Sept. 15, FDLE conducted a probable cause hearing into allegations of official misconduct by McAlpin in his investigation of a sexual molestation case. In January 2008, the governor directed FDLE to investigate McAlpin for allegedly attempting in January 2007 to get a victim to recant her allegations of sexual molestation against a suspect.
The suspect was allegedly a friend of McAlpin.
The complaint also said that McAlpin allegedly made conflicting statements when asked about the case. No criminal charges were filed, but McAlpin is still under investigation on administrative charges of witness tampering, and perjury not in an official proceeding.
McAlpin became angry when the matter was brought up during the public meeting Tuesday, believing the matter was still confidential.
“I don’t appreciate it being aired. The town attorney knows that this is a confidential matter. The town manger knows this is a confidential matter. You as the council president should know that this is a confidential matter,” McAlpin said.
The city attorney Guy Green agreed it was not public record.
“You shouldn’t be bringing this up,” Green said.
However, FDLE had released the proceeding to the public; the charges and initial investigation are public record.
Weeks said it did not matter, since he was not bringing up the details of the legal proceeding, just the suggestion of the League of Cities. Under the proposed administrative action, McAlpin would hand in his keys, badge and car. He would not act in any official capacity and would not be allowed at the police department until the case was concluded.
“I have a town to take care of here. Who is going to lead my men?” McAlpin said.
When Weeks made the suggestion, members of the crowd, which had come to support the Landing Bar and Grille that was discussed earlier, became loud, voicing opposition and saying the police chief was the best one the city had.
Many members of the audience called for town manager’s Ed Kilpatrick’s resignation.
McAlpin became even more enraged when Kilpatrick pointed out the legal matter was public record. McAlpin left the meeting to get a document which said it was confidential.
“I have done no wrong. I have had wrongs done to me,” McAlpin said.
Kilpatrick left the meeting to get his documentation, and then sat in the audience, away from the table where he had been sitting next to McAlpin.
After McAlpin showed the letter to the council members, Kilpatrick asked to address the council. McAlpin and Kilpatrick began to yell loudly at each other. Weeks and Green told both of the men to calm down.
“We have to have cooperation between you two,” Weeks said.
Kilpatrick replied that was not possible.
“The situation with Chief McAlpin has created a hostile work environment. This situation cannot continue. His behavior has been unprofessional,” Kilpatrick said. “I am asking you to help. If you can’t help me with this, maybe I don’t need to be working here.“
However, the other council members did not want act until the administrative case against McAlpin had been concluded.
“I withhold judgement,” council member Greg Lewis said.
Instead, the council hastily adjourned the meeting without taking any action.
“I think the council is making a serious mistake,” Kilpatrick said of the council’s decision to take no action.