SCOTT CITY COUNCIL REFUSES TO RAISE PAY OF POLICE PERSONNEL

SCOTT CITY -- Police in Scott City won't receive raises this year, apparently because of a complaint filed against two volunteer officers earlier this month.

At their meeting Monday, council members denied a request by Police Chief David Beck to raise the classifications of four patrolmen and three dispatchers, automatically increasing their salaries.

Four council members voted against the measure, causing it to fail. Councilman Jerry Cummins, who voted against raising the classifications, said he would refuse to approve raises for anyone in the department until an investigation into the complaint was completed.

Cummins accused Beck of possibly being the "problem" in the department, and said he'd "like to get to the bottom if it" before he approved raises. Beck didn't comment on the accusation.

Councilmen Ron Oller, Jim Cauble and John Rogers also voted against raising officer classifications. Rogers suggested the council research the salaries of other city police departments before they approve raises.

The complaint was filed June 4 against two volunteer officers, Bobby Wooten and Lloyd Young, who is the husband of Mayor Shirley Young. It accused the two of leaving a 6-year-old boy in a truck unattended after they arrested and jailed his grandfather. The arrest occurred May 24.

The officers, who are unpaid, say they handed over responsibility of the boy to two men who witnessed the arrest and who were also acquaintances of Jerry Moore, the man who was arrested.

One of the men, who had previously refused to talk to the press about the incident, attended Monday's meeting and told council members the boy was not left in his or anyone else's care.

The man Louis Heisserer, called the officers' claim "a bare-faced lie."

David E. "Gene" Thompson, a member of the Police Personnel Board, was also at the meeting. He told council members that Mayor Shirley Young has asked him to resign over the way he conducted last week's hearing on the complaint.

Young denied Thompson's claim, saying she told Thompson "let your conscience be your guide" when he asked her if he should resign.

Thompson admitted to the council he acted "out of line" while questioning the officers at the hearing.

Beck accused council members of "stalling" on the issue of raises in the police department. He said the raises are necessary to bring salaries in the department in line with salaries in other area departments. He said he would most likely lose officers if raises aren't given.

Council members also narrowly approved a 1991-92 city budget of just over $1.5 million.

Oller, Cauble and Rogers voted against the budget. Oller said more cutbacks are needed in expenses.

Beck said an investigation into the complaint is being conducted by Officer Danny Club, and results of the investigation would be presented to the council at a July 1 meeting.

The council voted to hold a closed session following that meeting to discuss the results.