Abbeville Police Chief Files Lawsuit Against Abbeville Mayor and Entire Council

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 6175

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
3347901729
Date: Jun 14 2019 5:32 PM

ABBEVILLE:      The fight in the City of Abbeville has just intensified and shifted into a higher gear.

Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham has filed a Civil Lawsuit action against his employing authority, Abbeville Mayor Billy Helms, Commissioner Terry Allums, Commissioner Brendy Murphy, Commissioner Dorthy Baler, Commissioner Rena' Cosby, and Commissioner Harold Robinson, Jr.

The Civil Lawsuit reads that Abbeville has in place and effect a Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual which had the stated purpose of establishing: (1) Guidance to city officials in their relationship with city employees and other city officials. (2) Employee rights and responsibilities (3) Fair and equitable treatment for all employees (4) Comparable pay for comparable work, and (5) Rules of conduct and performance expectations.

The complaint brings allegations against Mayor Helms and each and every Abbeville Commissioner. The complaint reads that "specific procedures and steps in the disciplinary process which are to be followed in order to rotect due process rights of employees and to assure the fair and equitable treatment of all employees".

The Complaint asserts that on May 13, 2019 Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham was called to the office of Helms ( Abbeville Mayor ) as to "his side" of a complaint that had been presented to the City Council. At that time Helms refused to inform Vanlandingham of the nature of the complaint, asserting the same had been made during an executive session if the City Council and was therefore not subject to disclosure. Without notice of information as the the substance of the complaint Vanlandingham was unable to respond.

The Complaint further alleges that on or about May 15, 2019,  in a letter addressed to Vanlandingham, Helms advised that he had allowed Vanlandingham to respond to a complaint "regarding an audio recording of you being published on the internet and that he was placing the same on the agenda of the City Council and deferring any punishment to the City Council.

The Complaint asserts Mayor Helms and Abeville City Council went into an executive session on May 20, 2019 where the complaint and subject of punishment. Following the conclusion of the "executive session" the Abbeville Council voted on and approved a punishment of suspension, without pay, for a period of ten work days for insubordination in the failure to abide by a directive that he "get along with the Henry County Sheriff".

The complaint asserts that on May 21 legal counsel for Vanlandingham, Attorney Stephen T. Etheredge and Dustin J. Fowler, wrote the Abbeville City Attorney and advised of Vanlandingham's objection to the manner in which the matter was handled. 

On May 23, 2019 Abbeville Mayor Billy Helms scheduled a disciplinary hearing. The stated purpose was: (1) that you ( Vanlandingham ) has shown conduct that is unbecoming as an employee, which ends to bring discredit upon the City and affects the employee, which tends to being discredit upon the City and effects the public respect with your department which could otherwise threaten order and safety; (2) violation of the City vehicle and driving policy to possess a city vehicle while on leave.

Counsel for matter as being different form the alleged violation and the second was interjected without proper notice.

In a later hearing Vanlandingham requested the identity of the accuser. Abbeville City Commissioner Murphy said the Abbeville Council was his accuser. No other council members refuted Murphy's resonse.

HISTORY OF AS ABBEVILLE TURNS

The Abbeville Police Chief Mark Jones ( not the Headland but a different ) retired. At the time Abbeville Police Lt. Noel Vanlandingham applied and Marlos Walker from Ozark - Dale County applied. 

The Abbeville City Council voted to employ Marlos Walker. 

Vanlandingham has been with the City of Abbeville Police like 15 years. He was hurt and asked Henry County Sheriff Will Maddox for a job because he was unhappy staying at Abbeville Police.

Sheriff Will Maddox hired Vanlandingham as a Deputy Sheriff. A couple of years rock on and then Ozark Police Chief Tony Spivey retires. Walker applies for Ozark Police Chief as does Charles Ward, the now Colonel of the Alabama State Troopers. The Ozark City Council hired Walker for Ozark Police Chief.

Sheriff Will Maddox, personally, and members of the Henry County Sheriff Department ( and myself ) supported Vanlandingham as Police Chief. Sheriff Maddox personally attended the Abbeville City Council meeting in support of Vanlandingham.

Abbeville hired Vanlandingham as Police Chief.

Thinks rocks forward and then a divide comes between Sheriff Will Maddox and Chief Vanlandingham. And that divide deepens. 

Headland as never been a team player with Abbeville. And Headland Police Chief Mark Jones and Henry County Sheriff Will Maddox has never really worked together. Jones and Vandalndingham are tight.

The 2018 Sheriff election comes around. A Henry County Sheriff Deputy/Henry County Commissioner Jay Calhoun resigns from the Sheriff Department and runs for Henry County Sheriff. In opposition to him was Jay Henry , Investigator to the 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office. Henry defeated Calhoun in the Republican primary.

OK, Sheriff Maddox had wanted to seek election as a Republican. But one of the Republican Mob Bosses in Henry County, Brother Swann, always felt Sheriff Maddox was the reason he lost his seat on the Henry County Commission. So they blocked Sheriff Maddox from the Republican ticket. So Maddox sought re-election as a Democrat.

There was already and still are issues that 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Pat Jones allowed the District Attorney Investigator to oppose the Sheriff in Jones Circuit. But when Jay Calhoun lost the primary election to Jay Henry, District Attorney Pat Jones hired Jay Calhoun as an additional investigator.

Things rock on. Both Abbeville Police Chief Vanlandingham and Headland Police Chief Mark Jones endorse a single communications center for Henry County. At the time off the election there were two communications center, Headland and Abbeville with Abbeville dispatching for Henry County Sheriff Department. That had been going on I know since Sheriff Welcher was the Sheriff.

Sheriff Maddox wins and defeats 20th Judicial Investigator Jay Henry. 

Then Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham starts a fit about Abbeville dispatching for Henry County Sheriff Deputies. Which finally forces Sheriff Maddox to start a dispatch center.

Now Henry County has about 21 dispatchers between Headland - Abbeville and Henry County Sheriff. Between law enforcement, fire and EMS about 5 different radios and at least three totally different systems.

And Abbeville Police have refused to run NCIC information for the Sheriff Department until the Sheriff could get the dispatch center up and running.

THE DIVIDE DEEPENS  

As things click around daily, the divide continues. A video of a Deputy removing someone from a vehicle of which refused complaince from a officer. That video results in persons questioning Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham on camera. Chief Vanlandingham made comments that other seasoned law enforcement administrators questioned as appropriate.

That video and activities during the election in opposition of Incumbent Sheriff Will Maddox, the dispatch center issues and conflicts, and other issues has now resulted in the actions of the Abbeville City Council.

Vanlandingham refused to take the 10 days, which is about $ 1,000.00 in gross pay, without filing the lawsuit. Now in jeopardy will be the $ 60,000.00 or so annual salary of Vanlandingham.

IN A SMALL TOWN, THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO REMAIN SILENT  

Twice I supported Noel Vanlandingham as Abbeville Police Chief. What I have come to learn is that Vanlandingham is a great tactical officer. One of the best tactical officers. But as the leader of the law enforcement agency Vanlandingham has had a difficult time in working well with others. And his attitude towards the man who hired him several years ago, is suspicious.

Vanlandingham Lawsuit by Rickey Stokes on Scribd

<- back