CHIEF NIELSEN FIRED
Eureka City Manager Dave Tyson fired popular police chief Garr Nielsen this morning. Something about different management styles.
Get ready for a return to the bad old days.
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The Humboldt Herald 
I wish I could honestly say I’m surprised but the corruption in Eureka is no longer surprising. Tyson should have been fired for incompetence when the details of the Hansen scandal came to light and certainly shouldn’t have been allowed to remain after tendering his resignation. The good ole boys will continue to run Eureka into the ground until there is true ward voting. Don’t hold your breath.
Source?
Was this decided in the closed session of city council?
This is ugly. Guess these local dummies could not stand someone with a degree from a top University. They didn’t want anyone to show them that they really had an unsafe city but it could be cleaned up. They didn’t want anyone with intelligence in any position that would show positive change. I really didn’t realize that Tyson would turn out to be such a small petty fool. This is disgraceful.
Times-Standard.
I would expect this cannot be construed to be for cause, so Nielsen will probably draw his salary until the end of 2012 if he choose to contest this.
Tyson has cost the city a staggering amount of money. The new city council has not shown much integrity since they took office last fall and they may well have overstepped the boundary this time. Recalls have been launched over a lot less than this kind of stupidity.
The T-S has the story up now. They quote Nielsen but have no response from Tyson or personnel director, Garry Bird. Nielsen’s contract calls for six months severance pay if he is fired without cause, so that’s another hit to the city’s budget caused by Tyson.
This is unbelievable. Tyson should be afraid of his own shadow after a move like that. We need a proactive police force, and firing Nielsen is a step in the wrong direction.
I don’t know if it was decided in closed session; speaking to the City council on Tuesday night we were met with mostly flat, disinterested faces-you couldn’t tell what they were thinking. But I do know that about 17 people came to speak on behalf of the Chief; and everyone who had lived here for any period of time applauded his positive changes. Mostly, the police, when called actually respond now. All of us on the West Side are familiar with the mail in police report, it was like not having a police department at all.
Rather than accept the ongoing corruption here, I think it’s time to start a recall for Tyson. I’ve heard the argument that we might get someone worse but when he basically admits to sexual harassment by settling for $200,00 (of which we pay $100,000 and our insurance rate will go up), agrees to rescind his resignation at the request of this horrible city council and now fires the only person who has effected positive change in Eureka, how can it get worse????
Let’s stop our whining and act!
I guess if you are not at least a third generation inbred local you cannot hold a position of importance in Eureka.
I’m not surprised. Nelson was a liar. He took credit for things others had done. Have you ever spent time with this man? He’s a little odd in my humble opinion.
Garr brought this on himself. If Tyson had done half the crap Garr is alleged to have done (for which he is STILL in litigation over),
this blog and the likes of PJ would be going batshit crazy.
Where do we gather to protest this travesty? Tyson, the filthy coward, did this on a Friday.
Most of you clearly don’t own or run a business nor administered a department. I don’t give a hoot about whether he’s a good guy. His bad judgment is -n the range of 7 figures of liability for EKA. I am sure there is a competent person with the judgment to avoid lawsuits that can be found to replace him.
Way passed time to fire Tyson. The guy is a blight on our community.
“Where do we gather to protest this travesty? Tyson, the filthy coward, did this on a Friday.”
The “management handbook” says to always fire someone on a Friday… So, Tyson plays by the book, his own book perhaps.
I so agree that Nelson’s bad judgement has cost the city dearly. Tyson is just cutting his losses with the old chief. By letting him go, he’s saving the city loads of cash in the long run.
12:33 doesn’t say who the “he” is he is referring to, but I’m assuming it must be Tyson given his complaints about lack of judgment and costing the city 7 figures in lawsuits.
What kind of people would extend Tyson’s employment
contract after he cost the city over !00,000 dollars?
I can answer my own question. Dumb F—s.
Who paid for all of the atty. fees.
I hope Garr Nielsen does not walk away from this. I
understand from those that know there may be some
legal steps he may take.
When I see hyena’s turn on each other over a rotting carcass and kill one another I think “such is the life of a hyena or jackal” and I don’t see that any one really cares other than the hyena getting killed.
Is it possible to recall Tyson since he isn’t an elected official? What is needed is to recall the council members who support him.
Can Tyson even be recalled? We can recall the council but Tyson is then appointed by those guys, I don’t know if he is subject to a recall. He certainly should be fired; but if it’s just on the West Side saying that-we are clearly the wrong people. I don’t believe the city council gives a hoot about anyone (or any thing)on this side of town. I agree it was cowardly to pull this on a Friday.
Anons 12:31 & 12:33 – it was Tyson’s incompetent management (which we have depositions to prove) that have cost the city in excess of $500,000 during a budget crisis.
You allege malfeasance on Nielsen’s behalf – but provide no evidence. You state we’d be batshit crazy. Well, make with one iota of evidence. I’m happy to take my indignant citizen’s stare where it should be.
Until then – I’m mad as hell at Tyson and I’m not gonna take it anymore.
Sigh. Thank you for the heads up at 12:22, Plain Jane.
Here’s the Times-Standard article PJ noted in its brief entirety (italics and bold mine):
Nielsen out at EPD
The Times-Standard
Posted: 06/24/2011 12:15:13 PM PDT
“Eureka Police Chief Garr Nielsen said he was fired this morning.
Nielsen said City Manager David Tyson met with him at the Police Department at about 11 a.m. to inform Nielsen that he was being fired without cause due to “differing management styles.” Under Nielsen’s contract with the city, he is due six month’s severance pay if fired without cause.
Hired in 2007 by Tyson and tasked with reforming a department beleaguered by a string of officer-involved shootings, Nielsen had recently been named a finalist for a position as Bend, Ore.’s, chief of police. At a Eureka City Council meeting Tuesday, more than a dozen people addressed the council and urged it to extend Nielsen’s contract, which was set to expire in December 2013.
Nielsen said he was informed Thursday that he did not make the final cut for the position in Bend. He said today’s news that he was being let go by the city came as a total surprise.
”It’s completely out of the blue,” he said. “It caught me completely off guard.”
Attempts to contact city officials, including Tyson and Eureka Personnel Director Gary Bird, were not immediately successful.”
(thanks, PJ)
I don’t live in Eureka. If I did, I’d be preparing recall petitions for the new city council.
I’m glad that Garr is gone. I would watch him and study him and deep i my gut he worried me. Obsessive compulsive I would guess but i’m no shrink. Behind the scenes he’s not always what he wants you to think. So tread lightly when defending him.
De nada, Skippy.
Same here, Mitch. The people of Eureka need to recall these Tyson supporting bozos and replace them with a council dedicated to a true ward system where people choose their own representatives as opposed to a council owned by a few wealthy good ole boys who live on the east side.
Dina Rose sounds like she has an obsession with Tyson with all that “watching and studying.” WTF??
Oops, that should have been “obsession with Nielsen.” My obsession with Tyson might be showing. :D
Tyson can not be recalled. He is hired by the council. Don’t you think he would have had the blessing of the majority of the council before making such a bold move. Good going Tyson!
HELP WANTED – Position – Eureka Chief of Police. Qualifications- low I Q – fifth generation Eureka born- inarticulate- incompetent- inbred- good ole boy brown nose – third grade education- apply to Eureka City Manager Dave Tyson, 531 k street.
Aren’t there more poor people than rich people in Eureka? If you don’t vote, you have little room to complain.
<>
When I was a lowly working stiff, I never let my current employer know I was looking for a new and better job. Because they would fire me. So I kept it a secret. I wish Garr Neilsen had done that..
Dina Rose sounds like a disgruntled employee. One of those pieces of dead wood that needed to be cut out.
Quoting anonymous “I guess if you are not at least a third generation inbred local you cannot hold a position of importance in Eureka.”
Yeah, that’s why I left Humboldt – I’m not one of “them” and have lost jobs to incompetent individuals who screw up the projects I initiate royally.
So what now?
Something about different management styles.
Judging from the results, Nielsen’s “management style” seemed to be characterized by… competence. Perhaps Tyson felt that the public perception of Tyson’s own “management style” was suffering by comparison with that?
;)
Tyson can not be recalled. He is hired by the council. Don’t you think he would have had the blessing of the majority of the council before making such a bold move.
Yeah, the council majority sure is “shaking things up” all right. Unfortunately the City Manager they (re)hired has chosen to “shake up” the one city institution that the vast majority of city residents seemed to feel was headed in the right direction.
Wonder if some of those who voted Glass out of office are experiencing a bit of “buyer’s remorse” today?
Here’s to hoping that the council clowns who insisted on retaining Tyson, and presumably approved of Tyson’s firing of the Nielsen, are themselves kicked to the curb by the voters at the earliest opportunity.
There was a question a few blogs ago questioning who were the
good old boys. Today, answered part of that question.
D. Tyson can not be recalled. We have talking a long time
about a possible lawsuit against the city for malfeasance and
misfeasance. Now is the time. We will be doing research
and will need a lot of help.
Will take any suggestions.
This is abhorrent. If you read the Times-Standard you’ve seen the constant flow of busts coming out of POP and the EPD that were years in coming. Garr has done more for Eureka by enforcing the law and not letting his cops shoot citizens than Tyson has done in his role as ring-leader for a corrupt group of leeches who provide no value to the city as employees.
There is simply no reason to fire Garr, and no reason to keep Tyson on board. Please, someone, show me a list of Tyson’s accomplishments as City Manager. A preview is below:
According to the NCJ blog, the new acting chief is… drumroll please…
Oh, just guess. It’s not that hard.
Give us a hint, Mitch. Would his initials be MH?
Yes, News Channel 3’s website is reporting that indeed Murl is the interim chief (again)
I believe that Chief Garr Nielsen had about 2 l/2 years left to
his contract. Usually on this type of contract, if an employee
is fired without cause the remaining salary and benefits must
be paid by the city to him. This amount could reach as high as
$300,000. If this is correct and this city just asked us to
vote in a raise in our sales tax, a malfeasance suit will not be
hard to prove. I also understand that
several highly paid employees who have retired from the city
have been brought back as outside contractors. Who are
they and how much are they receiving? Didn’t D. Tyson receive
extra money when his employment contract was extended?
I thought the job of the city council was to protect the city and
its citizens.
The SWAT team will reassemble in front of the Department of Mental Health for target practice at 3 PM.
Due to the short notice, jackboots are optional.
What’s next? Bringing back Douglas, reinstituting the SWAT team, and re-education camps to wipe away any lingering effect of those sissifying mental health and crisis intervention trainings that emasculated the formerly swaggering EPD officers? Back to the Good Old Days: Let the avoidable police shootings, in-house sexual harrasment, the 70 mph “patrols” up and down H and I street, and the ignored citizen crime reports resume!
By the way, congrats to Heraldo for once again scooping every single other news outlet in the county, a fact appropriately acknowledged by both the NCJ Blogthing and the Lost Coast Outpost, but for some reason not by the Times-Standard. Sheesh, have the folks at the T-S never heard of “credit where credit is due?’
About the time of Tyson’s “rehiring” the rats started RUNNING from the ship. The City Attorney, the Finance Director, the Head of Community Development followed by his #2, the Personell Director. Tyson has managed to GUT the city of any vestige of competence. The Chief was just about the last competent administrator we had. Now he’s gone. Does the name Bell ring a bell. Tyson has cost the taxpayers over $500,000 at last count through his “enlightened management. I figure about one more Tyson decision and we’ll be totally bankrupt.
Way to go, Dave, you Horses Ass!
And I think I meant “horses” to be plural because ONE wouldn’t be enough!!!
According to the T-S article, DTR, Nielsen’s contract calls for 6 months severance pay in the case of firing without cause. I hope that the people of Eureka demand their city council explain why they allowed Nielsen to be fired without cause which is going to cost many thousands of dollars the city can’t afford. I knew way back when the new council rescinded Tyson’s resignation that Nielsen’s days were numbered. A scorned woman may be a shrew, but a scorned and publicly humiliated man is seriously dangerous. Only a corrupt city like Eureka would have such a person as their city manager, not even taking into account how much money his incompetence and revenge are costing.
Is revenge sweeter when the taxpayers are paying for it?
Gotta give it to Heraldo. A scoop is a scoop. There’s no substitute.
Nice job, H. Mitch is on it: The Journal added:
“Captain Murl Harpham has been named interim chief. The process of recruiting and hiring a new chief will likely take about six months and will begin with asking the council and the public what they want in a chief of police, Tyson said.”
Perhaps more information– and an explanation– will be forthcoming to the public as to why he was let go?
Sigh. Always happens on a Friday, it seems. The Chief, no doubt, will be having a somber weekend, perhaps wondering how the City’s name came to be… “I have found it.”
How about we get Ryan Burn’s neighbor Badass to chase down Tyson and get OUR chief of police back?
there was 11 people who spoke an behalf of chief nelson. It must be thesame 11 people who are on this site bitchin and complaining. I doubt you represent the majority of eureka. instead you represent the most out spoken. Larry glass was voted out by the majority and we must assume this city coucil has the voice of the true majority. I support thierv actions and Mr. Tysons also. I believe there might be more to the reason why Nelson was removed than we know. Unfortunatly personel issues can not be talked about by the council. (excuse my poor spelling. I’m typing from my cell phone
If there were valid reasons for firing Nielson, why wouldn’t they fire him for cause and save the city his severance pay?
TRA, when a news organization reports news, it is not customary to credit another entity with a scoop, unless the news organization learned of the news from the scooper (in essence, covering its ass in case the scooper turns out to be wrong).
It seems more likely that this news traveled fast with people calling their favorite news outlets, and instead of publishing a rumor, the Times-Standard took the time to do the responsible thing — confirm its truth and try getting a quote. And really, it didn’t take that much more time at all. The reporting was published on the TS website before anyone had commented on the Herald’s posting.
Kudos to the Times-Standard for not becoming a gossip rag like some other blogs that are managed by news organizations.
Wonder how mad Eurekans will be whenthey discover it will cost them more than just 6 month’s severence.
The personnel issues are all Tyson’s. He couldn’t put Nielsen under his thumb like all the other department heads. He was outed as a philandering womanizer during the Hansen lawsuit and now he wants his petty, mean, immature, vindictive revenge. And the good ol council boys were more than happy to oblige. Perhaps one of them wants to be chief. Scary thought.
They didn’t fire Nielsen for cause because they don’t have cause, obviously. It’s all personal, isn’t it, David? Does the Mrs. still think you weren’t crushin on Tawnie and sleeping with Jill and playing grab ass with Virginia?
First of all the chief works for the city manager. They are supposed to see eye to eye. when they don’t, it’s the managers job to correct the situation. Like I said. The majority voted in the council for a reason. The council hires the city manager. The city manager hires / fires the chief of police. All as a result of the majority vote. I defend your right to disagree however don’t try and make me believe you all speak for the majority of Eureka citizens.
2:27 says: “The SWAT team will reassemble in front of the Department of Mental Health for target practice at 3 PM.”
…. and better armed than before with the District Attorney’s cache of automatic weapons.
Is Eureka Personnel Director Gary Bird the same man responsible for the “Citizens for a Better Eureka?”
It’s called an At-Will employment agreement. No reason is needed.
Funny how none of those citizens spoke out against the chief at the council meeting. This is driven by a handful of people at best and Tyson’s the circus ringleader.
Yes, it is at-will, that’s true. But they gotta buy out his contract when it’s without cause. And that comes out of your pocket, not Tyson’s. So I wonder if the majority will be ok with that, too.
Well, I think ‘the majority of Eureka citizens” are going to be outraged over this. The timing is also suspicious, if not malicious. The day AFTER Neilsen hears he didn’t make the cut for the Bend job, he’s called in the next morning and terminated without warning or cause.? Sure sounds personal. At the end of the day this is going to cost the supposedly cash-strapped City treasury plenty.
Anon 3:59 pm—no that’s a different Gary Bird. No relation
Just when one thinks Eureka couldn’t get anymore f***d up….the one competent adult left is kicked out. Who in their right mind would take the EPD chief job who is in any meaningful way qualified to do so? Ditto any of the other city dept. heads who have left. The rats have now all jumped, or been kicked off, the ship, and the only things left are the fleas.(Ms Atkins, excepted)
I hope the voters of Eureka are happy. Glad I don’t live there anymore.
I worked in downtown Eureka the day Cheri Moore was killed. As I left for lunch, a worker in my building who happened to monitor police radio channels was joking about how Ms. Moore was apparently about to come down in exchange for a cigarette. When I returned, the EPD SWAT team had shot her dead. She had been distraught and had called the people who the county pays to handle mental health issues. They, in turn, called the Eureka police. The police treated her as if she was a terrorist.
It’s not ancient history — it happened five years ago. The reputation of the Eureka police could not have been lower. There’s much more on this police shooting in the North Coast Journal’s archive:
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/092106/cover0921.html
As I recall, there were several other police shootings following the death of Cheri Moore, and the string only ended when control of the police department was finally handed over to an outsider, the Chief who has just been fired without cause.
It wasn’t just the shootings. I knew of many people who had called the police and had the operators argue with them. Many people never got a police response. This is what Garr Nielsen faced when he arrived as chief. By all accounts, he did a good job of cleaning up the cesspit.
They fired him without cause so that he could not file a lawsuit. Normal operating procedure.
There is still a cesspool there, but the stink is now the city manager’s office.
Regardless of peoples’ thoughts pro/con about Garr Nielsen, imo Tyson is a total clown and I really can’t believe he’s still employed here. He should’ve been canned a long time ago.
Maybe Dee Dee Wilson will get her old job back now. With the glowing recommendation Tyson gave her, why not?
Maybe Nielsen could file a libel lawsuit related to the Hansen lawsuit since he was a party injured by the same blog. After all, they settled a huge amount on Hansen when her investigators found evidence pointing to DD Wilson (who is, not coincidentally, the sister of Tyson’s then-assistant/paramour Pam) and Tyson’s investigation suspiciously did not find the same evidence. Does Nielsen have a good attorney? I bet he does now.
I do appreciate the stupidity of our local Regressives.
First you had EPD Police Chief Garr Nielsen publically campaigning for Larry Glass, Ron Kuhnel and Peter LaVallee. What did those three political candidates all have in common? They lost.
Then you had Chief Garr going to Thadeus Greenson of the Times Standard to announce he was a finalist for the Bend, Oregon police chief job (he didn’t get the job).
I don’t know about you, but wherever I’ve worked in the past, if I announced I was interviewing elsewhere they escorted me to the door immediately. Bye-bye. Don’t’ let the door hit your ass on the way out.
When Councilmember Linda Atkins wanted to open Chief Garr Nielsen’s contract negotiations to extend another two years on a contract that still had two-and-a-half years remaining, Atkins had to have the intelligence to count to four (plus the Mayor).
What else – Chief Garr had an alleged affair with an EPD subordinate.
Chief Garr demoted two EPD personnel who found out about his alleged affair and then promoted the married female dispatcher whom he was having the alleged affair.
Chief Garr was reprimanded in writing, not once, but over a dozen times by his superior for various infractions.
The EPD was torn in two by Chief Garr’s crude management style.
Chief Garr used to take his EPD cruiser and use taxpayer’s gas to Oregon to visit his family on a regular basis.
Chief Garr took his EPD cruiser to Trinity Lake to visit with the alleged female subordinate he was having the affair with. There is only one reason a man drives four hours to see a woman, a married woman at that. And it ain’t for hot dogs and a beer.
Lawsuits were filed, some settled and some still ongoing over Chief Garr’s actions.
Chief Garr’s family still lives in Oregon after four years (this speaks louder than anything).
Chief Garr has his house up for sale.
Chief Garr has zero ties to the City of Eureka. Yet he expects, no demands, that they give him a contract extension?
And today, while Chief Garr was escorted out of the EPD building – who do you think was waiting for him? Larry Glass, of yesterday’s news and has-been fame. Garr – you may want to rethink who your friends are as Larry Glass is the one who got you deeper into this mess.
I pity the local Regressives.
Since the November 2, 2010 elections I can’t think of a single thing the Regressives have done right.
The Regressives have lost every stinking political move since that day, starting with incumbents Bonnie Neely and Larry Glass losing their respective elections and losing badly.
With those two bullies out the way, it’s been good government ever since.
Jefferson School paid by the City of Eureka? I don’t think so. It’s all yours, Heidi.
Chief Garr and his baggage? Nada.
Tom Hofweber in the Humboldt County Planning Department gave Bonnie Neely $3,000 while still employed with the County. He got smart and retired.
Patrick Cleary sends an email to Martha Spencer of the Humboldt County Planning Department during the election, thanking her as one of his “policy experts”. Duh?
If I was Kirk Girard, I’d be updating my resume right now.
I see theres about 8 to 10 of the same people on here commenting. You all are like a little group of cranky old ladies bitchin and moaning about things they don’t know alot about. There may be a hue and cry however I bet it may amount to less than a few hundred citizens compared to the real majority.
Any bets on whether Murl has enough brains to continue the positive changes the community has spoken of? Since he complained here & there about not getting any credit for ending mail-in reports,I’ll check the “Has No Clue” box.
“I would watch him and study him…”
Obviously the chief had some very weird enemies.
Great comment Narr Gielson!
“If I was Kirk Girard, I’d be updating my resume right now.”
But you’re not. You’re just another anonymous shit-bird.
Murl is a good man who has givin his entire life to EPD. Never have I met a man who was more loyal. What has this man done or was resposable for that has made you all hate and depise him so much? He was the one who recomended mental health be at hostage situations. he implemented the attorney generals office and the DA’s office investigate all officer involved shootings. He got rid of the mail in reports. Tell me, what has he done so wrong to make you all hate him?
Narr’s post should be removed for repeating the same libel that cost the City of Eureka a trunk full of money.
Plain Jane, now you want to censor and prohibit free speech?
Everybodys post should be removed that doesn’t agree with you? That will make for a real dull dialog.
It is Tyson who needs his chain jerked. It is also Tyson who is the liar, which can be seen in his handling of the Dee Dee affair. Eureka has the most corrupt leader at city hall I have ever seen. It is embarrassing.
Narr Gielsen,
You need to get your facts straight.
Let’s start with the car. The Chief’s contract originally specified unlimited use of a city vehicle, in writing. Ask Tyson. When he told the chief to stop because malcontents were complaining, the chief did, even though legally he didn’t have to.
Anything else you mentioned, and much more, was addressed in the civil Grand Jury complaints, of which there were over 50, and all were found to be WITHOUT MERIT. Do you know what that means? No evidence of any affair, no misuse of city property, no evidence of anything in computer records, cell phone records, email. Do you get that? NOTHING. In fact, the grand jury said the complaints stemmed from a group who found change diffcult and would probably never move on.
The lawsuits, hmmm.. we know about Hansen’s and she got a big payout because of the city and Tyson. We know about Owsley’s, who apparently thinks she was demoted when she was made to do her job instead of sit at the computer & share recipes. Admittedly,she might get some money if the city can find any, but only because they can’t find any other department that will take her (I mean, really, who wants to work with a known whack job?). Oh and did you know that all her previous workplace complaints were determined to be unfounded? And she is now going around saying that the chief lied in his deposition. That’s just sad. She must be worried she is gonna lose or she wouldn’t have to make stuff up.
And don’t presume to know why the family is in Oregon. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to try to contribute anything positive to a city where members of the PD & Dispatch hire people to follow the chief & catch him doing something wrong. Or where they create a blog that not only wasn’t shut down by the city manager, but was so vile and vicious it resulted in a lawsuit where the city had to pay. Or a city where the city manager has chased away department head after department head because of his dysfunctional style. Or where same manager has had affair after affair, and still contiinues to think his shit doesn’t stink. I heard he even got drunk and hit on the chief’s wife.
Sick, all of it.
Repeating gossip about Tyson is just as vile as about Nielsen, 5:24.
My Dad used to use all kinds of sayings when I was growing up. One of them was “there is always two sides to every story”. And I think that is true.
It would appear that the same few people are blogging about how wrong this is and the old standby line “the good ole boys”, whomever they might be. Maybe there are things or issues the general public does not know about.
I see no gossip in 5:24’s comment, that’s just a fact Tyson is a lair. he’s a vindictive coward too. His heart is still broken over Tawney Hansen. He was going to leave his wife to be with her but Tawney shut him down poor poor pitiful Tyson. Tyson has to go.
narr sounds alot like dave best friend, Rex. Full of shit.
But it’s so much more likely to be true!
With Glass and Nielsen booted to the curb perhaps Eureka can now begin to move forward. That swamp needed to be drained.
such a lovely day !!
Dell Norris: What an incredible ignorant person you are.
Let’s do quid pro quo on the issues regarding the West Side.
Let’s talk about the intentional blighting of the West Side
for redevelopment money. Let us also talk about the law
or lack of before Garr Nielsen. I suspect you were born here
and your IQ measurement probably is the same as your
body temperature. We people who live and own property
on the West Side developed beyond the Knuckle dragging
stage. Some are old and some are young. The thing we
have in common is education and intelligence. What merit
do you have beside spitting on sidewalks?
They eat their own….
“You all are like a little group of cranky old ladies bitchin and moaning about things they don’t know alot about. “
Don’t you dare call me old!
Enough about the inbred, good ol boys that you say have made up our cities former chiefs of police. Please, PLUTO show me one former chief of police that was inbred with a third grade education. I take offense to your comment because i am the proud daughter of a former Chief. My Father was neither a good ol boy or inbred. Can you people not even post truths. All I can say is you really don’t know the truth.
To Anonymous ” A degree from a top University” does not make you a moral, fair or even good leader. Please give me something better then that!!!
To Julie Timmons “the majority of Eureka citizens should be outraged” that a pompus (SP) man should call the Times Standard and let them know that he is a finalist for a Chief’s position in another State, while still the Chief here in Eureka.
All I can say is I met the man, and i say man loosely on a few occasions and he NEVER impressed me with his “degree from a top University”
It is Tyson who needs his chain jerked. It is also Tyson who is the liar, which can be seen in his handling and depositions in regard to the Dee Dee affair. Eureka has the most corrupt leadership at city hall I have ever seen. There is not one city in this county that could hold a candle to these bozos. It is embarrassing. Now that they hold all the power are we going to witness another Indian Island or ship the Chinese to San Francisco type of incident? Lots of minorities and low income groups to currently to choose from.
To all those department heads that left city hall last year, aren’t you glad you got out with your dignity and integrity intact? This current bunch will carry this stain for a long, long time.
What is the top university?
TRA, when a news organization reports news, it is not customary to credit another entity with a scoop, unless the news organization learned of the news from the scooper (in essence, covering its ass in case the scooper turns out to be wrong).
It seems more likely that this news traveled fast with people calling their favorite news outlets, and instead of publishing a rumor, the Times-Standard took the time to do the responsible thing — confirm its truth and try getting a quote. And really, it didn’t take that much more time at all. The reporting was published on the TS website before anyone had commented on the Herald’s posting.
Okay, that’s a fair point. I withdraw my criticism of the T-S on this.
I am beginning to get the picture. If you are competent and professional and have a high IQ you are not welcome in Eureka.
The the council voted on this?
Those of you obsessed with hatred for Larry Glass are really funny. You act like he ran the city into the ground, when in fact he never even had a majority on the City Council.
On the previous thread related the the police Chief, HiFi complained that we had just had…
Ten of the worst years for the quality of life in Eureka’s modern history.
Yet not one of those years did Glass or his allies have a majority on the City Council. The old guard maintained a virtual lock on power throughout, ensuring that the era of backwardness continued with but a few exceptions.
For a good portion of that time, Bass was either on the City Council or in the Mayor’s seat, Douglas and Harpham ran the dysfunctional Police Department, Tyson mismanaged from the City Manager’s office, and the likes of Arkley pal Jeff Leonard and the neanderthalic Mike Jones populated the City Council. Ten of the worst years? No surprise there!
Yet for some reason, some of you folks seem to think that more of the same is what is needed. Like a guy who has dug himself so deep in a hole that he can’t climb out, and somehow thinks that the best thing is to just keep digging faster.
“To all those department heads that left city hall last year, aren’t you glad you got out with your dignity and integrity intact? This current bunch will carry this stain for a long, long time.”
Most, if not all of that bunch left, because in the last four years, Larry Glass’s bullying took its toll. FACT.
Signed,
ONE WHO LEFt
Nielsen makes a lot of sense to me. I have a hard time understand why they would let him go. He had a lot of support, and now we all have to suck it up and not hear the “whys” because it is a personnel issue. I think this guy has been good for Eureka.
By the way, let’s have three cheers for Eureka resident Paul King, who pursued and tackled the jackass who had stolen the Fortuna mayor’s truck and was skidding and weaving his way through a Eureka neighborhood on three flat tires.
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/blogthing/2011/06/23/my-neighbor-just-tackled-guy-who-stole-mayor-fortu/?c=62434
On a more somber note, folks may have to get ready do a lot more of this kind of self-policing in Eureka, given that City Mismanager Tyson just fired the best Police Chief Eureka has had in decades, installed a dinosaur as interim chief, and together with the retrograde majority on the City Council he seems poised to turn the clock back to the bad old days of incompetent, uncaring, and often brutal policing.
Eureka has the most corrupt leadership at city hall I have ever seen. There is not one city in this county that could hold a candle to these bozos.
Well, to be fair, I think Bell, CA still has us beat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_City_of_Bell_salary_controversy
On the other hand, they’re reforming, whereas Eureka seems to be deforming. Give it a few more years with the current trajectory and we might be able to give them a run for their money.
How did this happen? Didn’t the council vote on this?
Most, if not all of that bunch left, because in the last four years, Larry Glass’s bullying took its toll. FACT.
I think you’ve confused FACt with FICTION. They were “bullied” by a council member who was in the minority on the City Council and had no power over them at all?
If they’re that easily cowed, then we’re better off without them in City Hall.
The city attorney said there was nothing to report out of closed session after the council discussed the chief’s contract on Tuesday. It appears they did NOT vote on it.
You won’t get answers. Not even when Tyson has to explain the big severence payout. He was embarassed when his dirty laundry was aired in public via the Hansen lawsuit. He is a narcissist whose ego has been bruised and he is behaving exactly like the school bully. There’s a reason he has lost more than a couple department heads, but this council swallows his BS and seems too stupid to dig a little deeper.
That the chief put up with what he did and had the courage to show up everday & do the job he was paid to do after so much disgusting behavior says a lot about his courage and integrity and dedication. The way he was fired says a lot about Tyson’s lack of those things.
The city manager has the power to fire the police chief without a vote from the council? I guess I don’t know how it works.
So the council had a straw vote in closed session? Along with Tyson, I’m guessing we we should direct our anger at the tin man who had no heart, the lion who had no courage and the scarecrow who had no brain: Frank, Mike and Lance, but not necessarily in that order.
Dave Tyson and Mike Tyson must be relatives. They both fight in the same manner, but I can’t, for the life of me, figure out where Dave’s tattoo is. The real bully in the school yard is, yes you guessed it, good old Dave.
What experience or credentials does Tyson have to run a city? How did this no-nothing Bozo end up in this position of power? No wonder he wanted the four votes and your out clause. Of course he had a bunch of dummies to go along with it. Again those yahoos remain in control. Douglas will probably end up chief again-that is probably what that sappy flower & zoo award from KEB was about. What a ridiculous display that was.
I am disgusted. This man has done a lot of good for our community. He said himself he was committed to staying with our community until he retired, and he works “at the will of the city manager”, who is responsible for his job, or discontinuing his job. Apparently that is all it takes. I feel one person in the city manager’s position should not have this much power, especially when there is some sketchy stuff that happened between them or the accusation of it. I am very disappointed. There’s more to the story and I feel the public has the right to know. We pay these people out of our taxes.
The same old drivel about “the good ole boys”. Grow up.
There is obviously more here than meets the eye. The police department will continue to serve the public and everything will be fine, better, maybe even great.
Just for giggles you might try checking the crime rate when GN was chief 07 to 11 as compared to the four years before, 2002 thru 2006! you might be surprised.
I appreciate what Chief Nielsen did to improve the EPD and I wish him well. I hope he hired a new generation of police officers who approach their mission with the knowledge to do their jobs more effectively than our past EPD. Maybe they will be strong enough to continue on the better path set by Chief Nielsen even though they’re led by a geezer who should have retired a decade ago.
I also hope we’ll stop blogging so much and get out, get active and bring this arrogant, sleazy, embarrassing, stupid city government down. I know of a person who worked for our city temporarily and was offered a permanent position. Although this person liked living here, s/he refused the offer because s/he couldn’t work with such stupid people. So sad.
All the murders by cops before the chief came doesn’t matter to you?
google something like cop shootings in towns the size of Eureka and see how outrageous it was to have 5 of them in less than 2 years. And then try to say there wasn’t a problem.
Who did our District Attorney convict for those “murders by cops”?
I heard that Tyson even made Nielsen undress and take off his uniform while he watched. Gosh Dave, did you really think the chief might actually want to steal it or wear it home? What a sick bastard you are.
The sad thing for Eurekans is that the manager they are left with is a liar & womanizer who is known to have used his office for daytime trysts and instructed staff to cover for him by saying he was out getting a snack. And ask Tyson why he covers for a mayor who takes 3rd street women to a Samoa beach.
From the number of posts and tenor of the majority of comments (and assuming most people aren’t bothering to post under different pseudonyms) I think Tyson and his band of merry men will have some ‘splainin to do come Monday.
This is bad for Eureka in the short term, no doubt about it. The old guard of the EPD and their apologists are gloating with glee, not content to waste the taxpayer’s money by firing Neilsen without cause, they feel the need to slander him on the way out the door, too. Meanwhile those abusive and incompetent cops that had somehow managed to keep their heads down and hold onto their jobs despite Nielsen’s reforms are no doubt polishing up their resumes hoping some promotions and plum assignments in the coming months.
But in the long-term, this sad turn of events may still bring about some real good — that is, if enough Eureka voters sit up and take notice of what City Mismanager Tyson and the retrograde majority on the City Council have done.
The next election isn’t that far off, and the City Councilors who let their man Tyson do this may well pay a heavy price at the voting booth. Sooner or later, Eureka voters will recognize the incompetence and backwardness of the clique that has been in power in the city for so many years. This overreaching action by Tyson and his sycophants on the City Council is likely to hasten their day of reckoning.
Like Joe Hill said: “Don’t mourn…organize!”
The sad thing for Eurekans is that the manager they are left with is a liar & womanizer who is known to have used his office for daytime trysts and instructed staff to cover for him by saying he was out getting a snack. And ask Tyson why he covers for a mayor who takes 3rd street women to a Samoa beach.
[Deleted]
Lame. This kind of stuff doesn’t help the cause, in fact it only creates a self-inflicted credibility gap.
Leave the gossipy accusations to the kind of shitwads who ran that “Above the Law” blog. Don’t descend to their level…it smells rank down there.
“I heard that Tyson even made Nielsen undress and take off his uniform while he watched. Gosh Dave, did you really think the chief might actually want to steal it or wear it home? What a sick bastard you are.”
And what a shitbird moron you are. Cops BUY their own uniforms.
Peyton Place it is.
In this week’s spisode Tyson fires Nielsen because he blames Garr for his inability to express his undying love to Tawnie anymore (to say nothing of being able to fondle her) .
Tune in next week: Will the short leash Tyson’s wife has on him get even shorter (choke, choke).
Will Patty finally realize her best friend, Pam, was in on it all along and covered over and over for Tyson?
Will someone finally tell Patty that David was unhappy in his marriage and said he would leave her?
Will Frank hook up with Virginia?
Stay tuned for this and more!
You know, there are other rumors out there that involve former council critters and illicit trysts; funny how the ones involving that one don’t make it here, while the ones defaming political opponents of this blog stay up here.
“Leave the gossipy accusations to the kind of shitwads who ran that “Above the Law” blog. Don’t descend to their level…it smells rank down there.”
This blog has always been at the same level of that ridiculous blog. Don’t try and kid yourselves.
Comments on this thread are just a wee bit of confirmation.
Well, Anonymous 9:52, I think that makes Tyson the shitbird moron then for ordering Garr to take it off and leave it
Patty has had a tough year. Please leave her alone.
This blog has always been at the same level of that ridiculous blog
Actually, no, it hasn’t. And with so much of this surfacing today, and on an issue of such great interest to those Above the Law creeps, I am starting to wonder if those posting the gossipy hearsay and innuendo are actually running a little false-flag operation for he very purpose of making Nielsen’s supporters look bad.
Regardless, I would encourage the proprietor of this blog to delete at least some of the most egregious of the sleazy, evidence-free accusations made by some of the anonymous commenters above. And that goes for the sleazy, evidence-free accusations directed at Tyson and Jager as well as those directed at Nielsen.
My bet is that Frank will be forced into hooking up with the hookers because Virginia wouldn’t stoop that low-not for Frank.
LOL – this thread delivers pure gold!! Capitol Scoop H, I’m sure someday we will find out just how you do it. My favs,
“Kudos to the Times-Standard for not becoming a gossip rag like some other blogs that are managed by news organizations.
Does the Mrs. still think you weren’t crushin on Tawnie and sleeping with Jill and playing grab ass with Virginia?
Maybe Dee Dee Wilson will get her old job back now.
DD Wilson (who is, not coincidentally, the sister of Tyson’s then-assistant/paramour Pam).
Chief Garr used to take his EPD cruiser and use taxpayer’s gas to Oregon to visit his family on a regular basis.
Chief Garr took his EPD cruiser to Trinity Lake to visit with the alleged female subordinate he was having the affair with.
But you’re not. You’re just another anonymous shit-bird. (Ha Joel, as opposed to you, the well known shit-bird.)
Plain Jane, now you want to censor and prohibit free speech?
With Glass and Nielsen booted to the curb perhaps Eureka can now begin to move forward. That swamp needed to be drained.
Well, to be fair, I think Bell, CA still has us beat.
It appears they did NOT vote on it.”
stick it to ’em and keep up the good work.
A year or so ago the police were called into our neighborhood to respond to a very difficult situation. I wrote a letter of thanks to the department. I received a hand written letter back. It said: Thank you so very much for your kind words of support to our officers. I can’t tell you how much it mean to all of us to know that their efforts are appreciated. When people take the time to call or write it serves to re enforce our commitment to the special residents of this community. Garr N
Tonight I hope that Garr is ok and knows how much we appreciated him and all the improvements he brought to our town.
Actually, theUnreasonableanonymous,
yeah, it has. I’ve read this blog since its inception, and, slime is slime, and its been pretty rank here at times, depending who is at the helm of the good ship Heraldo at a particular moment in time.
You should probably frame that letter from the chief because I am betting it will never happen again. Murl would never think of it.
And anonymous at 9:59, “Patty has had a tough year.” How rich is that. I wonder how peachy the last few years have been for Nielsen’s family or Hansen’s family or the others mentioned in the blog. Patty’s “tough year” is directly attritutable to the actions of her husband. And it looks like it might get even tougher.
10:17 read some blogs from out of town sometime. Learn something. This is a huge loss for our town. Why would you fire the one person that brings positive change? Slime? You must be talking of those individuals that continue to want this town to be the cesspool of the West Coast. Tyson for one.
I think we should subject Tyson, Jager and company to the same scrutiny they subjected the chief to. Let’s start with the POP team’s contact with the hooker who says Jager is a customer. I guess that gives him a good reason to want the chief gone. Then we move on to the widely known office exploits of Tyson. I should go on, but it really would be fun to see how they come out of just that.
10:17,
Well, we disagree. The Above the Law blog was, in my opinion, much, much worse. It was apparently created for the sole purpose of trafficing in sleazy, unproven, anonymous accusations, and it certainly was dominated by such, mostly targeting the Chief of Police and one or two other people. That’s not the case here, where there is plenty of actual news (albeit with a definite Heraldo spin) as well as some substantive debate int he comment threads, along with, of course, a lot of meaningless but harmless trading of barbs and the like — but a relatively small amount of truly nasty stuff. Of the truly filthy stuff, almost all of it comes from anonymous commenters, and the worst of that stuff is usually deleted by Heraldo. So from my point of view there’s a world of difference there. Heck, even the Mirror isn’t as bad as Above the Law was, and that’s really saying something!
Sometime it takes a few hours for Heraldo to notice and delete the filthy stuff, as he obviously cannot monitor eveny single comment as it comes in in real time (not without requiring alll comments to go through moderation before posting, which would cut down a lot on the free flow of debate). He has, in the past, encouraged people to e-mail him about comments that they find particularly inapproriate, especially those making unfounded personal accusations and those bordering on libel (or corssing right over that border into full-in libel territory).
So I will wait a little while before passing judgement on his moderation choices for this thread. It’s Friday night and he’s probably got other things to do at the moment. We’ll see what happens by tomorrow morning. If he hasn’t cleaned up some of the worst of it I’ll e-mail him and/or post a comment here with some suggestions for which comments in this thread I think are truely deletion-worthy, including the specific time of the comment so that he can find them easily. If you don’t want to wait that long, you could go ahead and do the same sort of thing right now.
If you’ve read this blog as much as you say you have, you’ll know by now that I’m not shy about criticizing Heraldo’s editorial choices, (including things like inaccurate or misleading headlines, or inflammatory photoshop pictures) when I think that’s called for.
But with regard to the sleazy accusations and innuendos in this comment thread, they’ve all come from a couple of anoymous commenters, and I have no reason to believe those anonymous comments were posted by Heraldo, or that he approves of them.
I do think that as the proprietor of this blog, he does have a responisbility to remove some of the worst ones, but I’m willing to wait a little bit and see if he does so before I get too bent out of shape about it.
You don’t have to insult Murl to make Garr look good. During the time our neighborhood was trying to rid itself of a house full of extreme hoodlums Murl was helpful and returned every call and made sure we knew what was happening to help us. As neighbors we were concerned that these kids would retaliate and they did. . It was frightening and stressful. Murl even called to check on us when a close family member of his was very ill and he was out of the area. We have what has become a very good department and it deserves leadership that continues to keep the officers safe as well as the citizens. Best of luck to us all.
The council is not dumb, but they are ideologues who salute, click their heels, and are in lock step, lining up behind Tyson like good little boys and girls. After all, his wonderful and masterful management style has them glassy eyed. We have some heads of state in the middle east that are showing him how its done. Shit can the vocal ones and send the rest packing. Just remember that two members of council were not even elected by the people of Eureka, but were hand picked to give Tyson a lock
down majority. Even with all of the cloudy weather, Eureka politics comes shining through.
As the proprietor of the blog, Heraldo may also be able to block additional comments from the IP addresses from which the most offensive comments are coming. And he can probably tell if it’s in fact just one or two jerks doing most of the damage, which I suspect is probably the case.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he found out that some of the sleazy accusations aimed at Tyson and Jager are coming from some of the same IP addresses that the sleazy accusations aimed at Nielsen are coming from.
The Nielsen-haters, with their experience on the Above the Law blog, are certainly expert in their anonymous mudslinging skills, and I wouldn’t put it past them to engage in “false flag” tactics in order to discredit Nielsen’s supporters by making it appear as if they are just as sleazy as Nielsen’s detractors.
On the other hand, it may well be that there are one or two idiots among Nielsen’s supporters who are in fact sinking to the same level as the Above the Law creeps by posting salacious and unfounded rumours about Jager and Tyson, and if so, they should be shut down just as much as the creeps who are posting the salacious and unfounded rumours about Nielsen.
It’s not an unfounded rumor about Jager. Ask Tyson, ask Murl, ask POP team members, ask the chief. Oh wait, Tyson took his clothes and his phone away so you can’t ask him.
Murl is much more effective since Garr became Chief. Without a strong and focused leader even the best employees cannot do a thorough job. Since Garr took over we had a fully functioning police force. I dare anyone to deny that.
Kathy the big question is whether Murl did that entirely on his own or if the now ex-chief instituted policies that require followup and returning citizens calls. Cause from some of the comments I have read, it doesn’t look like that kinda thing was standard procedure before.
No, the big question is what to do about a city council that supports a city manager who fires a very hard working effecient, well respected chief of police for reasons unspoken and not understood.
You don’t have to insult Murl to make Garr look good.
Kathy makes a good point. Although I think the perception that Murl represents the “Old Guard” is not without some foundation, it is fair to note, as some previous commenters did, that Murl did take some positive steps toward reform during his previous tenure as interim Chief, before Nielsen took office, and those steps probably did help to begin to improve things at least a bit during the transition as Nielsen took over. And those steps may have been somewhat helpful in signaling to the Old Guard that change was coming and that they ought to give the new Chief a chance (unfortunatly some of the incorrigible dead-enders failed to take the cue from their elder and instead began the childish and despicable campaign of harassment that reached its apex with the actions of those involved with the loathsome Above the Law blog).
In comments above, and on other blogs, I referred to Murl as a “dinosaur,” which was not very nice, especially as it could easily be interpreted as a crack on his advanced age, which would be a low blow and at any rate is really not quite what I was trying to get across. What I was actually getting at was the perception (and to a significant degree, the reality) that Murl is part of the Old Guard and the insiders club that ran the Police Dept (in my opinion quite poorly in may ways) in the past. But it is also true that Murl has a great deal of experience, and the status of an “elder statesman” of sorts within the department, and as such I can understand why he’s not a totally unreasonable choice to keep things running in the interim. I do think the “optics” of it aren’t good, as his appointment to the interim Chief role may be interpreted as signaling a step backward, rather than a step forward, and of course maybe that’s exactly what Tyson intended, I don’t know.
Which still leaves one wondering what their explanation is for covering for Jager.
One more note on Murl’s recent track record. A friend reminded me how when he was on the receiving end of relentless and at times dangerous harassment from an obnoxious and downright unbalanced neighbor, it was Murl and another senior officer who helped to resolve that situation. The obnoxious neighbor had been shooting off actual firearms at all hours of the night to harass and intimidate my friend and another neighbor who was also a target, he had been shooting a pellet gun at another neighbor’s chimney because he didn’t like the wood smoke, he was throwing stones at my friend’s house and over his house at the other neighbor’s house, he was leaving threatening messages on gates and on cars, he put in high-powered floodlights aimed directly at my freind’s house that came on and off at random intervals all night long, he was putting incriminating graffiti on my friend’s fence falsely claiming that my friend was a drug dealer (basically inviting a home invasion), putting up racist flyers in the neighborhood and listing my friend’s address on them (inviting retaliation against my friend by those offended by the flyers) and many, many other incredibly obnoxious and dangerous forms of harassment.
The harasser also called the police department on my friend (who has a very serious medical condition) trying to get him in trouble for his very modest 215 grow (2-3 plants per year), and called in complaints saying that there were strong chemical odors coming from my friend’s house, telling the police that it must be from a meth lab or bomb making, which led to several emergency responses to my friend’s house, though of course no such odor was present, and when my friend invited the officers to walk through his house of course nothing illegal or dangerous or of a chemical nature of any sort was found. It was really an epic campaign of harassment that went on for years, and escalated into truly life-threatening stuff toward the end.
It was Murl and another senior officer who responded numerous times, inspected the 215 grow with my friend’s permission, and then went to the obnoxious neighbor and told him in no uncertain terms that the grow was entirely legal and to leave his seriously ill neighbor alone. Murl and the other officer advised my friend and his neighbor on how to gather evidence of the ongoing harassment and how to report and document each incident. And when the incidents continued despite Murl’s warnings to the harasser, he helped the victims initiate the process of getting a restraining order against the harrasser. In the end, a judge granted the restraining order, forced the harasser to surrender all his firearms and other weapons, even including knives, take down his floodlights and so on, and ordered him to seek psychological help. After having to surrender his firearms, and being restrained from any of his harassing behavior, the obnoxious, unbalanced neighbor chose to move out of the neighborhood within weeks, resulting in a radically improved quality of life for my friend and the other neighbor who had been targeted.
Throughout all of this, Murl and the other officers who were involved were the epitome of calm professionalism and played a very constructive role in resolving the situation peacefully. I’m not sure if this was officially part of the POP program or not, but it did take place during Nielsen’s tenure, though the harrassment had started years before during Douglas’s tenure (and at that time the police were completely unhelpful to my friend, to some degree seemed to be actually taking the side of the harasser, who was himself a Good Ol’ Boy with social connections to some on the force).
At any rate, I don’t mean to discount the experiences that others may have had with Murl in the past, and I don’t doubt that maybe some of those experiences were not this positive. But I do want to thank Murl for his sercive in that situation, which really did make a huge difference in the quality of life for the people who had been the targets of a gradually escalating campaign of harassment for years. The whole neighborhood is safer without the obnoxious jerk shooting off his guns at all hours of the night, and trying to create strife among his neighbors with his various surreptitious actions.
As with your situation, the difficult house in our neighborhood had a long history of unlawfullness that went untreated until Garr came. People actually told me not to bother with it because no one will come and nothing will be done. But with Garr things changed for the better.
Kathy, I had the same situation in my neighborhood, The neighbors used to say why call the police it won’t do any good. Garr did change things for the better. Big change!
Those who deny the major improvements in the attitude, competence and professionalism of the EPD under Nielsen’s tenure are basically echoing the absurd logic of the old chestnut that goes “who are you going to believe, me, or your own lying eyes?”
Friends of mine went to Tyson a few years ago about problem neighbors and Tyson made light of the whole matter and treated them like dirt. They were so discouraged they kind of just of gave up on the town. They were not from here and were not used to being treated in such a shabby manor. They figured if the head of the city shines them on and is rude then there is nothing left to do. Sad shape of things in City Hall.
OMG! Tyson really DID take his uniform!
“Nielsen said he was given about five minutes to collect some of his personal belongings, change into street clothes and turn in his uniform. He said Tyson then escorted him from the building.”
And then there’s this!
“Atkins said she doesn’t think Tyson would have fired Nielsen without cause if Eureka voters hadn’t passed Measure O in November, adding 0.5 percent onto the city’s transaction and use tax, helping the city temporarily bridge a $1.7 million structural deficit.
”The City Council has used Measure O to terminate the police chief,” she said. “They’re spending the money that people voted on to improve public safety to make it worse. I’m just appalled.”
That’s two down. Gags, you’re next. This is fun!
Use your heads. Garr Nielsen has no ties to our area. His family never moved here from Oregon even after four years. His house is for sale. He applied to take the Chief’s job in Bend Oregon at a cut in pay.
Since Nielsen arrived there has been one controversy after another after another in the EPD.
Murl Harpham is a total gentleman. Ray Shipley and Arnie Millsap were popular and great Police Chiefs.
Here is an observation. To all you Garr haters. He had some good points. To all you Tyson haters. Garr had some rather bad points too. Everyone is replaceable. Hopefully the next Chief will carry on with the good things Garr brought without all the lawsuits and political baggage.
And for everyone. For christsakes drop this. Its embarrassing for all involved including the former chief. Have you thought about the repercussions of all this when the man has a background search on another job? Hate to break this to you but this kind of internet meltdown won’t earn him points with any prospective employer. Think about that children.
I remember hearing Shipley and his wife telling supporters that he would have won the sheriff race against Renner if he had used marijuana leaves instead of stars on his campaign signs. Pure class!
Eureka has a reputation for being a corrupt and backward town so this will not hurt Garr. It just goes to show that they do not like newcomers here. The place will never be any better because the good ole boy locals have a stranglehold on it.
I feel really bad for Linda Atkins. It must be really creepy to be surrounded by people with no ethics that Rob Arkley placed around her. Fire Tyson and recall the entire council. Eureka is corrupt.
High Finance: You say the past police chiefs were so good.
Why did the crime rate become so high? You seem to confuse
someone being polite to competency. Garr Nielsen stopped
some of the old guard in the police department from turning
in excessive overtime on their time cards. That is when it
began. The old guard went running to D. Tyson. Garr Nielsen
had no way of knowing that this city is corrupt. The old guard
fabricated the story of his involvement with T. Hansen. Remember
the suit was against the city and David Tyson. Remember the
city settled out of court. David Tyson has cost this city
thousands of dollars and some how High Finance you think you
can justify this.
Today’s post on the Humboldt Mirror sickens me. I guess Atkins is the next prey in the Arkley cartel’s crosshairs.
Can’t anyone do anything?
“Nielsen said he was given about five minutes to collect some of his personal belongings, change into street clothes and turn in his uniform. He said Tyson then escorted him from the building.”
If true, that does seem a bit over the top to me. Almost seems like deliberate humiliation of the guy.
8.44am had the smartest post on this topic.
It has always amazed me how Garr Nielsen became a liberal/conservative test. All I can think of is that he came at the right time to fill a need for the anti-cop crowd. They were up in arms because of the four police shooting that had happened in a period of just a few years.
Never mind that all the shootings were found to be justified by the liberal DA. Nielsen made a few positive changes and also benefited by a lack of attacks on cops after the shootings.
Maybe Nielsen’s mistake was that he soaked up the
praise and willingly took the credit instead of
standing by his officers. Obviously there were problems in his style as evidenced by the incredible attacks his own department people did publicly at the city council meeting a couple of years ago.
None of us here are privy to all the behind the scene problems in the EPD. We are not in the position of deciding if it was worth $166,000 to get rid of him or to let the problems fester for another 2 1/2 years.
As a Eureka tax payer (both property and sales), this decision really pisses me off. How can the city justify $160,000 at a time like this, especially when to the outside observer the police department is doing fine – they respond to calls and they respond to the public when trouble spots come up.
Are things so bad that we need to spend Measure O funds to settle an old score? I’m amazed that the HiFi’s of the city think this is a wise use of funds. I don’t know what went on at EPD when Nielsen got here, but it sounded a lot like people engaging in drama rather than professionalism – and it appeared to get resolved by the Grand Jury and courts -let’s move on. If the public is satisfied with Garr’s performance and the officers continue to do the work, then we aren’t in a situation that demands immediate action and spending $160,000 of my tax dollars, even if things aren’t perfect (they never are).
Right, HiFi, because ignoring Tyson’s costly (for the taxpayers) revenge on Nielsen means it didn’t really happen and the hundred PLUS grand will magically appear in the coffers to cover it. Is Rob Moneybags going to pay for it since his council members and manager are solely to blame? I’m not going to help pay for it. My boycott of Eureka is on!
Like previously stated, there are two sides to every story and legitimate issues/points in both camps. However, those who elevate Garr to sainthood with “Moses” style powers need to come back down to earth. Garr is a mere man and like any human is flawed. He unquestionably instituted some popular and important changes and programs at EPD. He did some good things there of which he can be proud. And for those who showed some loyalty and competence, he was a good boss and treated them well.
However, Garr also undoubtedly had some poor management traits and made some poor personal and professional decisions, particularly at the beginning of his tenure. He tended to act impulsively, trust certain staff members too much, and make knee jerk decisions that were not always grounded in proper etiquette or legal form. Ethical concerns were also raised and persisted, along with chain of command issues. Its unfortunate because I do believe in many ways he had begun to mature with the job but he simply never could escape from the persistent consequences certain actions created. As we speak, the Owsley matter is still being litigated. I think his problems within the department’s ranks stemmed more from the manner in which he made certain decisions than the actual decisions themselves. And this doomed him. That’s not to say the majority of the department didn’t like him or were at least neutral about their feelings (I wouldn’t exactly say he was “beloved” by all, but neither was he hated by most).
Garr also became way too political (Larry Glass anyone?) and shot himself in his own foot with his boss (David Tyson) by neglecting and/or not understanding the importance of that relationship. Also, rather than mentoring and trusting his own command staff (lieutenants) he largely alienated and ignored them…not exactly a wise way to lead an organization, especially a paramilitary one.
Garr was mindful of and skillful with manipulating positive public perception and maintaining good relationships with the press–this was calculated and explains much of the seeming public outcry over his firing. To his credit, he also had progressive law enforcement ideas which he acted on. Many (but not necessarily all) took the department in the right direction. However, Garr failed at many important relational aspects of the job…both inside out outside of the department. He could be cold, calculating, and sometimes vindictive. He could also be open, encouraging, and supportive. Garr was a study in contrasts. I knew the man and personally liked him, but I also questioned some of the aforementioned issues which concerned me. For these reasons, I understand why it was time for change and he had to go. I understandably also have mixed feelings about this.
On another note, Murl Harpham is in fact a good man and leader. He understands the importance of developing and maintaining relationships. He also understands and embraces service and commitment to community. That letter was undoubtedly his own idea. Also, Garr was hardly there holding the hands of all of these EPD officers doing positive things, including the POP team…there are good people at EPD and that’s how they roll no matter who is Chief.
What problem is festering? Yes, there were negative comments “a couple of years ago”, but we didn’t hear those this week and the police continue to work in a professional manner under Nielsen. So, I’m NOT willing to assume it is worth $166,000. It’s my tax money and it appears to be spent settling a two–year old score. I’m sick of officials hiding behind “it’s a personnel issue and can’t be discussed”. Well, it’s our money and we don’t see any justification. I sure won’t vote for any of these clowns next time around.
“Where do we gather to protest this travesty?”
Linda Atkins sent this out in an email:
“I know you are probably all aware of the Community Meeting happening on Monday, but I thought a reminder wouldn’t hurt. The meeting will be about the firing of Chief Nielsen and how the community wants to respond. It will be at the Veterns Hall at 1020 H Street at 6pm on Monday June 27. Hope you can all attend to discuss the future of our community.”
It has always amazed me how Garr Nielsen became a liberal/conservative test..
I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. As I wrote on an earlier thread, best I can figure is it has something to do with Left vs. Right and Glass/Atkins vs the rest of the current city council. How exactly Nielsen came to symbolize the Glass/Atkins faction, I’m still not sure.
You’ll recall one fellow replied it had nothing to do with that and it was just about how much safer the west side was since Nielsen took over. After that, he proceeded to run down the current, and most of the last, city council.
That said, I’m sorry to see this happen, although I’m sure there some issues involved that most of us aren’t aware of.
“Reason” – provides some reasonable discussion of what has gone on the EPD. I tend to believe much of what he/she said. However, as a tax payer, I don’t see the situation he/she describes as justification for spending $166,000 during difficult financial times. The city just doesn’t have the luxury to make these types of marginal decisions in this environment. I’m sure there are other city managerial positions that are not being handled perfectly, but we don’t have the funds to correct situations that are currently working. The following don’t qualify as reasons to spend this type of money at this time.
“I think his problems within the department’s ranks stemmed more from the manner in which he made certain decisions than the actual decisions themselves. ”
“That’s not to say the majority of the department didn’t like him or were at least neutral about their feelings (I wouldn’t exactly say he was “beloved” by all, but neither was he hated by most). ”
Sounds like the performance of many competent managers I know.
Whether or not you agree with the changes in the police department, overwhelmingly positive it looks like from comments, it is a sad commentary on the mentality of people who think it was ok to create the abovethelaw blog to spread lies and hate and hire surveillance on the chief. It is no wonder that his family never moved to such a toxic environment. The poison in this city seems to start at Tyson, and his stranglehold on the council. But you get what you vote for and the citizens can deal with that. I am sure after the shock at such shabby, low class treatment wears off, Nielsen will know he is better off out of it.
I support you Dave, but wtf were you thinking?
I trust you have a back-up plan or maybe Garr wanted to leave Eureka so bad that you guys fabricated this?
Oh, and if that guy jumps again, let him drown.
I would add that if one were to judge the balance of Garr’s “scale” in terms of whether not the Department is better or worse after his tenure, the balance is in his favor. Overall, EPD is a better place. Mission accomplished. However, one can also expect some changes now to correct certain issues needing tweaking or retraction.
“Plain Jane says:
June 25, 2011 at 10:06 am
Right, HiFi, because ignoring Tyson’s costly (for the taxpayers) revenge on Nielsen means it didn’t really happen and the hundred PLUS grand will magically appear in the coffers to cover it.”
Hey Jane,check out the humboldt mirror,where Rose writes that the bill that tax[payers pay for this action was a GOOD THING,HA!!!
DAMMIT Mresquan! I try to avoid that cesspool because I lack the willpower to keep from posting and today was no different. :D
The vile Mirror has sunk to new lows. They replaced my actual post with a fraudulent one and added another. That has to have been done by the administrator.
Whether or not the “benefits” of firing Garr now are worth the financial costs to the City/taxpayers remains to be seen. There are certain other internal factors that weigh in to its timing that the public will likely never hear about. Remember, much of the general public’s perception of Garr’s service is based on what has been printed in the media and that is never the whole story.
Things like crime statistics/trends and neighborhood perceptions of crime problems are rooted to far too many other factors to attribute solely to one man (positive or negative). I also reiterate again that individual officers in the department deserve the lions share of the credit for EPD’s successes. While it is true that a strong leader can influence change (good or bad) within a department and change its culture, Garr himself often praised his people for their accomplishments and excellent performance (recognizing them and not him as being responsible). He was generally thoughtful this way perhaps to a degree more so than his immediate predecessors. Now this was internally. It is also fair to say he sometimes took too much credit publically for the efforts of others.
It is understandable that people are upset about this decision. Some inside the department are too. But all these wild conspiracy theories and outlandish allegations need to stop. Common sense dictates there is more than meets the eye here. Garr’s time here was fated to come to an end either now or at the end of his current contract…just too much controversy and drama. The real question, if any, as I see it is about the timing and manner of his firing, not the ultimate need to go in a different direction.
Garr also was never truely rooted to and invested in this community to the degree he ideally should have been. That’s not to say he wasnt dedicated to EPD.
My neighbors can and I can tell you about the time we wasted by going to those stupid neighborhood watch meetings at the police station. This was the runaround we used to get before Garr became Chief. All we got was lip service. The drug houses were not touched and the drug dealing was not dealt with. And that ain’t the cops fault. It was bad management.
Down the Road
Check the crime rate from 07 to 11 versus 03 to 06 and then maybe make a comment
“Remember, much of the general public’s perception of Garr’s service is based on what has been printed in the media and that is never the whole story.”
I don’t know how “Reason” 11:41) came to his conclusion. It’s more likely that the “general public’s perception of Garr’s service” is based upon living in this community, as the Anonymous comment above, and so many others, would indicate.
Anonymous 2:26 what was the crime rate. If it was high it means that they made more arrests. No surprise here being that the city lures the indigent, criminal and insane to our town.
I would agree the POP team’s accomplishments are responsible for much of the accolades EPD has been given. That is not to say they are anything special as individuals, but rather that such a team made EPD much more responsive and effective in dealing decisively with community crime problems…as it was expected and intended to do. I’ve heard many officers at EPD hope to one day have their chance to work on POP. Eureka needs such a program.
Just remember, while Garr deserves credit for restarting the team and being very supportive of it, it is the team members and supervisors who made it work. And Murl Harpham was the division commander. He too deserves much credit for the team’s successes…maybe more. Hopefully he will continue to be very supportive of the team and allow it to continue doing what they are doing…maybe even expand it. The public certainly wants and expects this-they’ve made that clear. I think Harpham believes in it too…he’s certainly invested a lot in POP.
Before Garr came to Eureka, the PD at its best was a joke! Tyson needs to go! I hope to see everyone at the meeting at the Vet Hall Monday night! It is time to let City Hall know that we WILL NOT GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE!
“The problems will fester if Garr remains”.
I assure you that there are always problems festering regardless of the personality. But when your team comprises a group of respectable, well-connected alcoholics, everyone plays by the rules, keeps their mouths shut, or else.
We’re experiencing the “or else”.
Tyson has been pulling strings and being manipulative all his working life. He wants the crown and by god he will be king. If you don’t think he played a shell game with the budget, ask the former finance directors who worked for him. If you don’t think he played fast and loose with personnel issues, ask the human resources directors who left. If you don’t think he tried to work things his way when his friends were involved, ask the former city attorneys. There is a reason he has lost many smart, talented people. Maybe when he is gone and you get someone who actually has a brain, no ego and knows how to manage, you’ll all see that.
Nice dreams, Anon. However, since the city council is who hires the city manager, given the current council it is quite unlikely.
I agree with “Reason” that the POP is a popular success, and Murl Harpham has served us well. Most of the people I talk to also feel that policing has become more responsive to the community since Chief Nielsen took command.
For those who think the Chief was too controversial and therefor we’re better off without him, I’d like to suggest using that logic for Tyson. Remember, he was looking for another job when his chickens came home to roost. Then the council welcomed him back. This council is a degrading embarrassment for Eureka.
Most likely, not one of us will ever experience the complex and controversial dynamics in running a city.
I trust Mr. Tyson is doing what is best for Eureka and has zero motive for doing harm (especially for some dark club).
Dave is a great manager and will be missed when he is gone.
All this is very confusing. As a resident of Eureka, I have the general impression EPD has improved ovet the past four years but am also aware of certain controversies within the department and City Hall. How does a regular citizen find out the truth? Who can we trust?
Sorry 8:59, but you need a better argument than your trust.
Thanks Ed,
I suppose that if you, too had to let a popular and controversial dept head go, you would also say bullocks to the politics, to the blogs and to the illiterati.
No offense.
Sorry Anonymous, but Ed’s point was simply logical, while your arguments are sloppy and weak. No offense.
Repeat question of 9:05. How can we find what is true between these polar opposite opinions? I, for one, need clarification and imsights. I have been happy with EPD as of late but it seems trouble has conti ued to brew under the surface? Or is that just discont among a few?
It’s the discontent of so few, powerful yes, but few. It really should speak volumes that the chief was fired WITHOUT CAUSE. That means they didn’t have any cause and/or they knew they wouldn’t win a lawsuit. (See previous Hansen lawsuit that Tyson lost).
The grand jury report on the 50 some complaints the few lodged against the chief (under their brainless theory of “let’s-throw-everything-we-can-think-of-in-there and-hope-some-of-it-sticks”) were without merit, ALL of them.
After this long, if there dirt to be found don’t you think it would be out there? On every blog the detractors all rant and rave but all they can say is no one knows the whole story. Give us a break. If the whole story was what you insinuate, it would be out there. You got nothin cept black hearts, no souls, and very little IQ between you all.
Ok children. You lost. Get over it. Mr Neilsen will be headed north to his family where he has been trying to go for the last two years. When one screws up so much then announces in the press that he wants to leave then he gets to. Gotta tell you that when I read about the Bend gig I thought wow, that’s bad judgment to go public. The guy is consistent with that problem.
Do you mean a better argument for this blog Joel?
I trust Dave and the elected that keep him employed. Vote em out if you have issues with that.
Anonymous 10:44 Before Garr a regular night in my west side neighborhood meant several gunshots and an occasional pipe bomb. Constant 24 hour traffic to the drug dealers houses. By car, foot and bicycle. Loud music 24 hours. Hookers a block from my house. Needles and condoms on the sidewalk and gutters. I had to clean these up daily. Human excrement and trash in our yards. Even our doormat was stolen. 2 attempted break-ins, one a tweaker and the other a methadone addict. My husband was beat up in our front yard by a tweaker. My husband was mugged twice while walking to old town for morning coffee. My neighbors life’s and mine were threatened by the drug house on the next block because we supposedly “snitched them out”. After that threat my neighbor the head librarian of our Humboldt County library decided to get out for the safety of her family. She sold her house and moved. She was often propositioned as if she were a prostitute while walking to her job at the library. She had to see the hookers turning tricks in the library parking lot. When she came home from work she had to look out her front window at drug dealers parked in front of her house while they scored. We all had to see this because they never park directly in front of the drug house but down the street. Most of these druggies looked like the just got out of prison, scarey. The worst drug house in this neighborhood was in operation for at least two and a half years. They felt so safe with their position as drug dealers that they would wave at the police when they drove by.The drug house was just one block from the police station. My next door neighbors were robbed several times. Hookers dropped of in front of our houses after they turned their trick. Everyone around that doesn’t have mean dogs had been robbed. Many times our car windows were broken and all the neighborhood cars were broken into. One of my elderly neighbors had a stroke after she was threatened after she reported license plates as instructed at one of the worthless neighborhood watch meetings. Then things changed when our new city councilman actually listened. At this same time the new Police Chief was hired. No more neighborhood watch meetings that resulted in nothing but wasting everyone’s time. No more mail in reports about crimes. The police actually came out when there was a crime. Drug houses were shut down. Dealers arrested. A strong police presence. No more drug dealers with their loud base music driving around our neighborhoods looking for business. In the days before Garr one neighbor close to one of the drug houses had to watch as two of the neighboring dealers chased each other around her house with a gun. Another time she had to drop to the floor as gunshots flew past her house. All this while she was heavily pregnant. Her husband had been accosted several times on their own property. These are some of the things that have taken place in my area . We now sleep peacefully in our west side neighborhood. This is part of my experience here. Maybe this will give you an idea why many of are so upset about Garr being fired. For the first time we have a good quality of life her and feel safe. Now what will happen?
It’s pretty obvious that the city manager and the newly elected council members are out of touch with the residents of Eureka on this issue and the Jefferson School issue. They are taking the city in a whole new direction that they do not have a mandate to do. The west side residents had the most to loose in both instances and should start the recall before the cabal on the city council brings more havoc to city government, and they will.
Ann white is full of bull feces. How sheltered of a life have you lived? There are numerous holes in all of your scenarios. I’ve lived on the Westside for twenty years before the new ex chief and NEVER had a problem or felt threatened. Some people just need attention and love drama right Ann?
SmokeMonster obviously lives in a “nicer” part of the west side. I have lived here most of my life and I avoid even driving through that area.
Smoke has blinders on. Drug and detox houses are all over the west side. POP has made the majority of their bust there. Smoke doesn’t get out much.
Sounds more like smoke and mirrors too me.
Uh, pipe bombs and daily gunfire? Really? Wasn’t reported to EPD to my knowledge. At least not anywhere near the rates Ann reports.
smokemonster; must mean the westside of cuten. Reason; people gave up even calling EPD, most of the time they wouldn’t show and if they did you never could be sure what they’d do.
“Do you mean a better argument for this blog Joel?”
Yes, but if you’re satisfied that your idiotic comments serve a purpose, then your low aspirations have been fulfilled. The fact that the minority that votes brought in this new City Council has little bearing on this discussion, as far as I’m concerned.
What Ann White left out was during the time she was writing about
is that we had no back up from the police department. We were
told to sue the landlord of the biggest drug house. Jerry Dross
was the only one that was not afraid to do this. We were not
dealing with local marijuana dealers, we were dealing with inner
city Oakland.
We were told to take down the license plates of the abandoned
cars. That is when our neighbor was accosted by two older
teenagers and two younger ones. They threatened to hurt
her and followed and circled her for blocks, she was afraid to
go home. Her stroke followed shortly after that. The police
response did not occur right away because the responding
officer could not go to the teenagers house alone because
they called prejudice and he needed a witness. The result
they took no police report and stated it was a little neighborhood
squabble.
Nothing that Ann has said or what Lorene said during the
last city council was made up or embellished. The pregnant
neighbor called me one night at 11:00 PM, she was on the
floor and there was shooting around her. She was afraid
and crying. This doesn’t began to cover what we have
been through. This isn’t a cutesy fun and games topic.
I have lived on the Westside for a very long time; everything Ann White said was accurate. I don’t know where smoke monster resides-but it’s not around here. She hit it on the head; the reason everyone is in a lather is because they are TERRIFIED that it could go back to; assualts, needles, harrassment, vandalism, personal robberies and burglaries at least once a day in the area-if you doubt this, go back and look at the crime maps for the last ten years; pre Garr Nielsen and post Garr. There was a special meeting, related to the crime problem on the Westside at City Hall, I believe in 2005-it’s in the archives of the NorthCoast Journal. Over 100 citizens of Eureka were there to speak to the District Attorney, City Council, Police Chief Douglas, and the city attorney. They got an earful; the crime rate in Eureka (with only 28,000 population) at that time was actually higher than in East Oakland. Many people testified that it was more dangerous to be out on the streets of Eureka than it was to go for a walk in Oakland-which has one of the highest crime rates nationally. Doesn’t that sound out of control to you? So, imagine our surprise when Garr Nielsen managed to get a police response over here; regular patrol, police physically responding to citizen calls for help, and a huge decrease in the crime rate. Garr Nielsen did the best job any of us could have imagined; all with a reduced $ budget and manpower-for this he was fired by that snarky Tyson? I simply can’t believe this, and none of us can imagine what’s next.
It is undeniable that by far the majority of comments are from people who have seen so many positive changes first hand.
It is undeniable that the chief stayed and faced his detractors day after day. Even after all the blowback and lies and smears from the crybabies in the department, he did not shrink away from trying to make an impact that the citizens have applauded.
It is undeniable that the detractors can’t give any reasons other than “you don’t know the whole story” for their chortling. It certainly seems true that if there were more to it than Tyson’s sick need for revenge we would have seen it on some blog by now. (Where are ya,DD? Still smarting from having to pay off Hansen? )
It is undeniable that good cops aren’t gonna be talking about any of it because they know there will be a target put on their backs by the Tyson cronies still around. Murl, is it gonna start with you?
It is undeniable that Eureka is going to remain a sad little burg with a sad little bi-polar city manager whose strings are pulled by a sad little megalomaniac.
If you are concerned over the “without cause” firing of our very capable Chief of Police I urge you to attend a public “town hall” meeting; Monday Night at the Veteran’s Hall, 1020 H Street in Eureka at 6 PM. Please attend if you are able; it will be held in the lower level, so go around the side of the building and down the ramp to that level.
I agree with most of what is being said here but the city council’s election can’t be blamed on a “minority that votes” any more than any other election. They won fair and square whether you like it or not. I am not happy with some of the members of the council, but they won an election that had no scandal attached to it. We have to work with what we have, or recall.
Mitch wrote: “It wasn’t just the shootings. I knew of many people who had called the police and had the operators argue with them. Many people never got a police response. This is what Garr Nielsen faced when he arrived as chief. By all accounts, he did a good job of cleaning up the cesspit.”
I agree. Being mocked by EPD dispatchers stopped soon after Nielsen became Chief.
If Eureka is to get rid of the people wishing to drag it back into the mud, a recall of several members of the new city council will be necessary.
If there are more than 50,000 registered voters eligible to vote for a position, 15% must sign recall petitions. If there are fewer than 50,000, 20% must sign the petitions. All circulators must be eligible to vote for the position. The signatures are not made public, but if the number of valid signers is insufficient for a recall, the people who requested the recall are allowed to examine them to see which signatures were ruled not valid.
The recall election is then scheduled for three to four months from the date the sufficient number of signatures are filed. If a regular election day exists in that window, it’s held on the regular election day.
Click to access recall.pdf
Issues to discuss at the rally:
Where is the money coming from to pay off the chief?
Which council members supported the firing and how was this known if there wasn’t a vote?
Has Tyson repeatedly used his office as a motel 6 during business hours & had his staff cover for him?
Does Mayor Frank Jager consort with hookers at Samoa beach?
Just for starters.
In addition to the forum on Monday, folks should also turn out in large numbers for the next City Council meeting, and as many as possible should speak during the public comment section. Speak forcibly, but calmly, avoid personal attacks, and make sure any generalizations you make are fully supported with specific examples. Let them know that you are unhappy with the fact that the City Manager they re-hired has just fired the best Police Chief Eureka has had in many, many years. You may also want to mention how unhappy you are that $160,000 of your tax money has been wasted on firing Nielsen now, without cause, rather than at least allowing him to complete his contract.
According to Tyson, he and the City Council want to hear from Eureka residents on what you are looking for in a new police chief. Let them know that you want one that is a lot like Garr Nielsen, and not a return to the bad old days of poor attitude, poor service, lack of professionalism, and overreliance on the use of violence and deadly force.
We know that the little clique of Old Guard cops and their allies will be there to try to push the council and Tyson to hire someone who will return Eureka to the way it was before, when the police considered themselves to be “above the law,” and acted like they were an army of occupation, rather than public servants there to Protect and Serve the public.
Remember, despite Tyson’s unforgiveable action in firing Nielsen this way, it was Tyson, and a council majority that was not really all that different from the current one, who hired Nielsen in the first place. They did so because of the active engagement of Eureka residents who were fed up with the status quo and demanded a new, more competent, more professional, smarter approach to policing. Eureka residents need to let these councilmembers know, in no uncertain terms, that there is no way they are going to allow the reforms Nielsen brought in to be undone.
While they will never admit it, these councilmembers must know that they and their boy Tyson have really screwed up bigtime in the eyes of most Eureka residents. Let them know that if they hope to redeem themselves, they’ll need to find a new Chief who will maintain the improvements Nielsen brought, and in fact build on those improvements as we move forward. (Of course that task will be made more difficult by the fact that many good potential candidates may be dissuaded from even applying for the job, given the shameful treatment recieved by Nielsen…but nonetheless, we’ve got to try.)
Most of these councilmembers most likely do want to be re-elected, so let them know that selecting a new police chief who will continue to improve the department — not return it to the days of insiderism, arrogance, unprofessionalism and unaccountability — is their one and only chance to mitigate their mistake and to show us that this firing was not just an arrogant attempt to roll back the clock to the bad old days.
forgot to ask earlier, Hey Heraldo did you censor any posts in this thread or just let it all hang out? no critique implied, just curious.
Authority to moderate comments has been exercised.
Has Tyson repeatedly used his office as a motel 6 during business hours & had his staff cover for him?
Does Mayor Frank Jager consort with hookers at Samoa beach?
That’s exactly the kind of gossipy nonsense that will be completely counterproductive whether it’s raised at the public forum, or the City Council meetings, or both.
Those who have worked so hard to undermine Nielsen with the very same kinds of rumours and mudslinging would like nothing better than for those who opposed Nielsen’s firing to stoop to their level. Then they can just point at the people making those off-topic, irrelevant and mean-spirited personal attacks and say “aha, these people are irresponsible and motivated by petty issues, gossip and political motives.” They will absolutely love it if we abandon the moral high ground and sink down into the gutter with them, as this would take the focus off their own childish, hateful rumormongering and mudslinging, which was epitomized by the Above the Law blog and laid bare in the Hansen lawsuit.
Don’t do it, people. Stick to the relevant issues and to facts that can be proven. If anyone has any actual evidence to back up the salacious claims about Tyson and Jager’s alleged extracurricular activities, take it to the Grand Jury, don’t try to insert it into this debate about the firing of the Chief and the hiring of a new chief. It will backfire, I guarantee you.
Anon 8:14 is either severely misguided, or is actually an agent provacateur for the Old Guard, trying to goad you into taking the low road and thereby destroying your own credibility.
And I’m guessing the latter.
“authority to moderate comments has been excercised”
that means deleting any comment with an opposing view or factual data.
that means deleting any comment with an opposing view or factual data.
What a steaming pile of horseshit.
There’s no way you could read through this thread and honestly make such a claim, unless you’re either profoundly retarded or severely deranged. Opposing opinons abound in this thread, and the absence of “factual data” to back up those opinions is not because they’ve been removed, it’s because those sharing the opinons have, for the most part, simply failed to supply any factual data.
As one who fairly often expresses views that differ greatly from Heraldo’s — for example on GPU issues, Lovelace, etc. — I have never, not once had a comment removed.
I’d say “nice try”…but it wasn’t…it was a pathetic try.
Please remind people about the Town Hall meeting tomorrow night at 6 at the Veteran’s Building 1020 H Street; please try to bring as many people who care about this issue as you can.
I think tra and Heraldo each understand what is happening here very well.
I do think the gossipy personal attacks consisting of allegations of extracurruicular misconduct by Tyson and Jager (such as the insinuations made at 8:14) should be deleted, but since they hadn’t been deleted yet, I felt I could at least signal my disgust with them at 8:35, so I did so.
And, as I alluded to above, I think there’s a pretty good chance that the 8:14 comment came from an agent provacateur type who simply wants to make Nielsen’s supporters look as if they are just as sleazy and gossipy as his detractors.
Which, if true, is all the more reason to delete those comments…not that more reason is needed. And Heraldo, if you do choose to delete the 8:14 comment, feel free to also delete the part of my 8:35 comment that quoted 8:14. If not, at least we can ridicule the jackass (whichever “side” they are really on) who thinks it’s a good idea to focus on that kind of stuff.
I agree, TRA. Heraldo doesn’t censor differences of opinion, but does have a responsibility to remove libelous posts regardless of the poster’s motives or belief in their veracity. Some of them, obviously, are done by denizens of the Mirror (most likely the Bugs itself who edits posts and impersonates posters) so Heraldo is forced to either remove them and be called a biased censor or just as nasty as the dirty Bugs.
A few days ago I posted one line at the Mirror stating “It only seems that way when you compare your IQ to theirs,” in response to a post that said their (Mirror rats) collective IQ goes down 20% when a liberal posts there. My comment was edited to an crude statement and neither my actual comment nor subsequent comments were posted; however, a series of crude posts were made using my ID, and, since no one but the moderator could see any of my comments (they were in moderation), the impersonation was obviously perpetrated by the Bugs itself.
The mirror is too high schoolish. Few take it seriously. I don’t visit there anymore because there is absolutely nothing of substance. I picture a few overgrown jock types sitting around a screen laughing their heads off while swigging beer. We don’t even have to put them down, they do it themselves just by content.
Would be interesting to see some of the allegations on this blog against Tyson, Jager etc go to a civil grand jury, too. Can I hire someone to follow them? Oh, wait, that’s DD’s job.
That is truly a shame.
Wow. I’ve been out of town for a few days, so I’m catching up. It’s really hard to see how this firing could be about anything but politics.
Nielsen got kicked in the head day after day by a power hungry little Napoleon and his buddies. And yet he stayed, and accomplished so many positive things. I wonder if the community knew that he went in to the PD on his time off to shampoo carpets and paint in an attempt to make the troops work environment better.
Obviously he just wanted to make the PD modern, proactive, responsive and well -functioning (to say nothing of not having them shoot people anymore). There were casualties & there always are with change. That’s the way it works. Now he is one himself, but let’s not hope it is because of change back to the dark ages.
Maybe the next chief can follow the road map Nielsen laid out.
But my money says Tyson will get someone with more skull and less brain because the man simply can’t handle someone who shines brighter than he does.
Even for this blog site, Auntie Arkley has crossed the line again.
Heraldo should erase the post at 11.38am.
“Even for this blog site?” H, if they “cross the line”, censor them. Who’s “line” No Class?
whose
Indeed.
Hey HiFi,what do you think about both of Tyson’s kids getting low interest home loans through the city redevelopment funds?
Persdonally, I think the civil grand jury complaint process is looking better and better.
My question is did their loans go to houses in the redevelopment zones? Are they rerouting redevelopment funds to a part of town that shouldn’t be getting funds?
Hmmm, no matter where they ate, doesn’t it seem a little suspect to you that BOTH his kids got em?
There probably isn’t a law against both kids getting them but I think it is against the law to use the funds outside the Redevelopment area.
Anyone know what part of town his kids live in? This could end up being stinky.
Did they already get the loans? Remember 2 council meetings ago they approved $35,000 for a feasibility study for first home buyers. I think it was redevelopment $ they gave away. It involved HUD. Somethings is rotten in Denmark.
Proof ? Facts ? Does that matter to any of you ?
First, show me his kids got the loans.
Then, if they did, what are the requirements for these loans ? Did his kids qualify ? How many apply each year and how many of them get the loans ? In short, did his kids get special treatment or is this program as easily available to our kids ?
What is against the law is using redevelopment funds like this outside the redevelopment zones. A requirement.
Is getting rid of Redevelopment a done deal in California-what about Eureka?