Chief of Police John Parker resigns
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ST. IGNATIUS — The town is once again looking for another Chief of Police after John Parker resigned during the city council meeting on Dec. 6. Parker’s last day was Dec. 9, and Mayor Charles Gariepy appointed officer Aaron Frank to serve as acting chief. Frank’s been with the department since Aug. 22. Parker served as Police Chief since April. The two were the department’s only two officers.
“I’m going to pursue other opportunities,” Parker simply stated after Gariepy read his letter of resignation, following complaints of recent burglaries and thefts in several area homes and businesses.
There have been reports of thefts and burglaries, particularly in the area of Home Addition and St. Mary’s Drive. In early August, the St. Ignatius police department received several calls from residents who said their vehicles had been rummaged through or had items stolen. At the time, Parker could not confirm how many total calls were received, but 10 calls were made to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Resident Arleta Long said she was concerned with the town’s rash of residential break-ins and what she sees as the lack of action by the local police force.
“In case of an emergency I want to know why we do not have a police officer (on call) when our officer lives half a block away,” Long said. “There was a lady in her 80s who saw a break-in and no one checked on her until later.”
“I’ve never not responded to a call once I’ve been notified … It is unreasonable to expect to have two officers on duty 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. It’s absolutely not going to happen; it can’t happen,” Parker countered, explaining that 911 calls, such as the one made by the woman, are handled by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Long was also frustrated with problems of shoplifting and prosecuting those involved.
“There is no restitution and they don’t go to jail,” said Long, a manager at Gambles Hardware store. “We’ve been told we don’t have enough evidence, but we have tape of them putting it in their pockets … As citizens we need to know what to do.”
“When I was made aware, I came into your store. I asked if you could compile a video and you said your son would,” Parker said. ”Why didn’t you call me? I would have picked it up,” he asked after Long confirmed her son made the video that same day.
Parker said in order to charge someone with shoplifting, more evidence than a video is needed, prosecutors also need to prove intent in addition to the dollar amount taken and a positive identification of the suspect.
“So you are saying I can’t physically stop them?” Long questioned when it came to detaining suspected shoplifters until the authorities arrive. Parker advised Long to speak with her attorney.
“I just want you to know that (Parker) has done the best he can,” deputy county attorney James Lapotka told the city council. Lapotka cited the breakdown of communication between the different agencies in the area when a call is made, which can be answered by a multitude of officers from Lake County, Tribal, Ronan, Polson or even the Highway Patrol.
“I don’t have anything on my desk about these 20 break-ins,” Lapotka said. “And I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Where do you think the breakdown is?” asked council member Marine Johnson.
“The information has to go uphill,” responded Lapotka. “Cross-jurisdiction is as complicated as it gets here. We have a history of bringing in out-of-state cops, new cops, and it’s just not their fault. It takes a long time to learn (about jurisdiction).”
Council member Rod Arlint said that one of the problems is that “there is too much expectation and too little funding.”
In other news, the city council discussed replacing furnaces in the fire hall, city and the ambulance building. The town has received three bids for the project.
The council also discussed the town’s delayed water project, which has now garnered a “stern” letter from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
The town will continue to receive administrative letters every three months until proof is shown that progress is being made on the required chlorination for the city’s water. Originally the DEQ required the chlorination project to be finished by the summer of 2011.
Public works director Scott Morton expressed some concern with the project’s engineer, Fred Phillips of Great West Engineering.
“He’s not acting with the town’s best interest,” Morton stated. “We’re really being mistreated. We have paid him to do nothing.”
City council member Ray Jensen shared Morton’s sentiments.
“I’ve felt this way for the last eight months,” Jensen said.
Morton said there are several aspects of the project that Phillips has failed to accomplish since last month’s city council meeting.
The town has yet to receive a finalized plan and Phillips even suggested possibly raising sewer rates in order to fund the project.
However, the town has yet to secure an easement from the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes gave permission to the town to drill the well.
The city council decided unanimously to reject all the previous bids for the project.
For now, the water project is halted until the spring. Morton is now working to secure the easement from the Roman Catholic Diocese in Helena.
