Council suspends RPD officer
Stressed and upset looks hung on the faces of the Russellville city council members and Mayor David Grissom as they emerged from a special called executive session at the Nov. 6 city council meeting. Grissom called the regular meeting back into order, and Councilman Arthur Elliott made a motion that several people in attendance were happy to hear.
The council voted to suspend officer Brett Evans for 14 days pending an investigation.
“That’s one win. I hope the others take notice,” one attendee said.
The decision comes at a heated time for many Russellville citizens, who attended the council meeting to express their concerns about unfair treatment from the Russellville Police Department.
During the executive session that lasted nearly one hour, some attendees shared stories of alleged wrongdoings while they waited for the council to reconvene in chambers.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, I can’t make comments regarding the nature of the allegations, but they are trying to determine if those allegations are warranted,” Mayor David Grissom said.
Other actions the council made at the meeting are:
- Approval of a proposal for engineering services with Civil Group for a community storm shelter at the John Blackwell Sports Complex.
- Approval of the 2018 Municipal Workers Compensation Fund Safe Workplace Guidelines.
- Approval of a resolution declaring vehicles surplus in the Russellville Police Department.
- Authorization to submit the Foster Grandparent Program grant application for 2018 and approve the appropriation of local match.
- Discussed the dangerous intersection at Jackson Avenue and Limestone Street.
- Approved the request from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to waive the rental fee at the A.W. Todd Centre Dec. 2 for the 4thannual Holly Day.
- Approved the request from the Russellville High School volleyball team to waive the rental fee at the A.W. Todd Centre Nov. 16.
