ADVANCE FIRES POLICE OFFICERS

ADVANCE -- The Advance Board of Aldermen fired the town's three police officers Tuesday night. The vote was 3-1.

Several critics of the action, particularly some local ministers, said Wednesday they feared drug users and other criminals would again invade the town.

The board dismissed Police Chief Don Cecil, full-time officer Danny Lee and reserve officer David George.

The officers had been criticized in recent months for writing an excessive amount of tickets and seeking publicity on some drug arrests.

New Mayor James Harnes Sr., who was sworn in Monday night, said Advance citizens didn't want a police chief or officers who were saying the city is filled with drugs.

Harnes gave no official reason for the dismissals on advice of counsel. State law allows this in a fourth-class city. Harnes said the primary reason was "expressed dissatisfaction of those who have contacted me over the last two months."

After the dismissals, the board quickly summoned Bill King, a retired Advance police officer, to city hall at 11 p.m. and swore him in as interim police chief.

Harnes said Stoddard County Sheriff Steve Fish has indicated his department will help provide law enforcement services until new officers are hired. However, only one road deputy is on duty at night to cover the 35 miles from Bernie on the south to Advance on the north.

Harnes intends to appoint two aldermen to oversee a citizens' committee to hire new police officers. Several applications had already been filed at city hall Wednesday.

New alderman David Singleton, elected April 4 and sworn into office Monday night, said he had been very vocal in the campaign that he didn't support the personnel in the police department and was wanting a change.

Singleton was fired as an Advance police officer in March 1994. He has a lawsuit pending in federal district court against the city, Cecil and four former aldermen, alleging his rights were violated by his dismissal.

Singleton said the voters apparently agreed with his stance on the department, citing his 78-76 victory over retired California highway patrolman Jack J. Brown.

Singleton said he didn't see any reason to delay his commitment to the voters to make changes in the police department. He said he heard no negative remarks at a local coffee shop early Wednesday morning.

"And Bill Holder was elected as a write-in candidate," Singleton said. "Obviously, that showed the city was wanting change." Holder beat George's wife, who was a candidate, by 29 votes in the election.

Voting with Singleton and Holder Tuesday night was Lucetta McCullough, who is serving her second year on the board. She declined to comment Wednesday on the reasons for her vote.

"When you have more enemies than friends, it's time to do something," Holder said about the dismissed officers, adding that residents didn't want the kind of law enforcement the officers were providing.

The department's public relations problems started six to eight months ago and had been building, Harnes said, adding that it wasn't the number of tickets, but the attitude of the police officers in giving those tickets. That attitude infuriated some area residents and businessmen.

Alderman Lawrence Matney voted against the dismissals because the policemen were "devoted, very upstanding men who had their hearts set on the best interests of the city."

Matney had overseen the police department in his alderman's duties. He said he rode with the officers at times, found them courteous and professional and felt they were doing a good job writing DWI and speeding tickets and making drug busts.

The Rev. Tony Badami, pastor of the Christian Life Church, was the most vocal of the ministers opposing the board's action. He suggested that a petition be circulated saying the citizens were unhappy with the board's decision and asking for reinstatement of the police officers.

"I feel the board unjustly fired a good man," said Badami, a nine-year resident. "They were vindicating themselves and evening the score with Cecil. They weren't thinking of the town or even concerned about it."

Badami said the board should give city residents a "factual reason" for the dismissals, adding that the board fired the people who were starting to do some good with their crackdown on criminals.

Badami said he can't believe the people of Advance elected someone who was suing the city.

He said Cecil became unpopular after coming down on drug dealers and writing tickets for people driving while intoxicated.

Some residents were more interested in the image of the town rather than in arresting criminals, Badami said.