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Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham Placed On Administrative Leave

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 7627

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Mar 26 2020 10:00 PM

ABBEVILLE:   Round 2 - Abbeville Alabama, Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham.


BREAKING NEWS . . . The Abbeville Herald has learned this afternoon that Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham has been placed on administrative leave until the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for April 6. More details will be released as we learn them.


VIA ABBEVILLE HERALD FACEBOOK  




HISTORY:    Noel Vanlandingham has been a long time Abbeville Police Officer. While he has had opportunity to work at other departments he remained at Abbeville Police Department. 


When Abbeville Police Chief Mike Jones retired Noel Vanlandingham applied for the Police Chief job. The Abbeville City Council did not hire Noel but hired Marlos Walker as Abbeville Police Chief. Vanlandingham was upset about it. He sought a job with Henry County Sheriff Department - Sheriff Will Maddox. Sheriff Maddox hired Noel.


When Noel applied after Jones retired I fought for Noel to be the Police Chief. Having known him for decades, known his dad Sammy Vanlandingham, without question I supported Noel for Chief.


MARLOS WALKER BECOMES ABBEVILLE POLICE CHIEF


Marlos Walker ultimate goal was to be the Ozark Police Chief. When then Ozark Police Chief Tony Spivey retired Walker applied for the job. And was hired as Ozark Police Chief.


With the Abbeville Police Chief job open, Vanlandingham applied for the job. And he had the full 100% support of Henry County Sheriff Will Maddox. In fact Sheriff Maddox was at the Abbeville City Council meeting in support of Noel Vanlandingham being selected as Abbeville Police Chief. Many deputies and officers joined Sheriff Maddox in being at the meeting supporting Noel. The same as I did, supported Noel.


AFTER NOEL BECAME ABBEVILLE POLICE CHIEF


But since his being Chief of Police, he has turned into being a tailhole who is bitter, power hungry, and impossible to work with. He turned on the man who hired him when he was unhappy with the City of Abbeville, Will Maddox. He began to fight with the Sheriff and department. Problems kept developing and there was a session with the Abbeville City Council, Vanlandingham, members of the Abbeville Police Department, Henry County Will Maddox and Henry County Sheriff Deputies along with Henry County Probate Judge/Commission Chairman David Money. That meeting was a childish meeting that was unbelievable of such childish issues.


From there things rocked for a while. Vanlandingham and the Sheriff got into it over Abbeville dispatching for the Sheriff Department and the inmates at the Henry County Jail. Since Sheriff Welcher was the Henry County Sheriff Abbeville Police always dispatched for the Sheriff Department. And the only jail in Henry County is the Henry County Jail of which Sheriff Will Maddox is in charge of.


FUED AND DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN ADULT LEADERS


The feud continued. Abbeville threatened to stop dispatching for the Sheriff Department. Sheriff Maddox put in his own dispatch in Henry County Jail and hired dispatchers.


After a series of articles and STUID SLAPS a meeting between Headland Police Chief Mark Jones, Headland Mayor Ray Marler, Henry County Sheriff Will Maddox, Henry County Probate Judge/Commission Chairman David Money, Abbeville Police Chief Mark Jones and Abbeville Mayor Billy Helms, Henry County 911 Director Chad Sowell and myself. I guess since I wrote the articles I was the moderator.


The meeting started where Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham and Abbeville Mayor Billy Helms said I lied in a article. In fact the Mayor said that I had told him that I could lie in an article. That is untrue and a total false statement by Billy Helms. I have said that drama sells but never said I could lie and did not lie in the article I wrote. But I told Vanlandingham and Helms that I would stipulate that I was a rear end ( used another word ) and would stipulate to that. But the meeting was not about me, but about a central dispatch. Because the way things are operating with so many different dispatching is dangerous for the safety of the law enforcement officers, fire and EMS.


Then Noel got into a argument and involved into a situation involving the Sheriff Department. As things developed and drama developed, not sure exactly what, resulted in a disciplinary action of Vanlandingham being suspended. Then a civil suit was filed by Vanlandingham against the City of Abbeville, Mayor and Abbeville Council members. The case was filed in Federal Court. Through summary judgment Mayor Helms and the Council were dismissed but the suit has continued against the citizens of Abbeville.


CENTRAL DISPATCH   


Discussions had been ongoing about a central dispatch in Henry County. All agencies on one system. Resistance from leaders involved.


Recent developments occurred so a couple of weeks ago Abbeville Police and Henry County Sheriff Department combined into one Central Dispatch. Headland Police still have their own.


Abbeville Police Chief Noel Vanlandingham has been furious. He has not supported a Central Dispatch. He has thrown every obstacle possible to stop the success of the Central Dispatch. But for the citizens of Henry County, all of the county, it is best for the citizens.


Vanlandingham also feuds with the Abbeville City Clerk. 


Do not know the specific details of why Vanlandingham is suspended. However, he turned very bitter against the man who supported for him to be the Abbeville Police Chief, after he gave him a job.  He has fought the Central Dispatch, which is what needed to be done in Henry County. He despises the EMA Director who is running Central Dispatch.


Somwhere in between is why Vanlandingham is suspended.


NOW ABOUT NOEL VANLANDINGHAM   


I respect Noel. Consider him a friend of mine. I realize he is mad with me and probably does not consider me a friend, but he is wrong.


In my opinion Noel Valnlandingham is a very excellent law enforcement officer. He is a good field supervisor. And Rickey Stokes fought for Noel Vanlandingham to be Abbeville Police Chief.


But when he was appointed Police Chief something happened to Noel. He was not the same person, became bitter, and turned on those who were friends that could help him be a success.


If you are in a combat, you want Noel Vanlandingham with you. He can handle himself in a hand to hand combat. He is a law enforcement officer who knows the law, and can maintain law and order.



But I have come to realize he is not the "top dog" man. There is no one to keep their foot on him and say whoa boy. No one to keep him focused.


And I have a problem when Will Maddox was loyal enough of a friend to gave you a job when unhappy. And support you in getting Police Chief. But you turn against Sheriff Maddox and fight him at election time. That proves no loyalty.


But I support you as a law enforcement officer, you professionalism, your ability to maintain law and order. Supported you to be Chief but realize, you do not need to be without a major change in your bitter attitude.


APRIL 6, 2020  ABBEVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 


We will see the next Abbeville City Council meeting on April 6.


IN CLOSING  


I am not against Noel Vanlandingham. He might have justification on some reasons he is bitter. But the citizens all across Henry County deserve better, and you are a better person then this



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