By Carolyn Reid
By the time Falmouth Mayor Sebastian Ernst was sworn in Friday, December 30, at 5:15 p.m., Falmouth had received the resignations of all but one of its dedicated police staff. Officer Ruey Couch came to the swearing in to see the new council and mayor seated and to meet them as the only member of the department as 2023 was at the doorstep.
The mass resignation comes after Ernst met with Fire Chief David Klaber to ask he reconsider his resignation. Klaber submitted his resignation to both Butler and Falmouth councils during their early December meetings, Butler’s regular and Falmouth’s caucus.
After his discussion with Ernst, Klaber rescinded his resignation, but that does not seem likely for the police department. The department has spent the last several weeks resigning, finding new places to work.
The resignations seemingly come in light of remarks that Ernst had made earlier about dismantling the police force if elected. While any such possibility has to be approved by the Falmouth council and then the fiscal court, the officers felt they were in no position to stick around to see what happens next.
Meanwhile, the city is put at risk with so little coverage. While Officer Couch has stayed on, he cannot be expected to cover the city 24 hours, seven days a week. And another who had planned to stay knew even 12 hours, seven days a week would be too much.
“I just can’t do that,” Officer Mark Branham stated. “I can’t be one of two people working here.”
So how will the city residents be protected?
Before the resignations were official, one resident who knew what was coming stated he would carry a gun. As word of the resignations made it around, at least one business owner said the business would rely on its alarm systems. “I still pay county and state taxes, also, and I have full faith that someone will answer this dispatcher.”
That is not guaranteed at this point, according to Judge/Executive David Fields. He clarified that Sheriff Jared Brewer is starting in a new position himself, and that will take a lot of his energy as he brings on staff.
Furthermore, Falmouth council will have to make the call as to how the situation will be handled. If council does follow Ernst’s alleged desire to merge the city and county law enforcements and fiscal court approves, citizens will have to understand the first priority of the sheriff’s office is the county and not the city, Fields said. Even if extra patrols were put in place at the county level for the city, those county patrols would be dedicated first to the county; also, while the thought is that using the sheriff’s department for city patrols would save money, Fields says that the truth is the costs would be the same if an agreement came between the city and the county. “We would need extra vehicles on the road, and the county would have to pay more retirement and salaries.”
Those would come as a direct cost to the city, just as they do now.
While Fields is certain Brewer will do what he can to help until the situation is rectified, he reminds everyone that the sheriff is learning his job, and his office is not yet fully staffed. He also feels for the city.
“I admit I’m disappointed with the department jumping ship like that.”
Angry citizens were more harsh as they learned of the resignations.
Meanwhile, Falmouth City Council will meet in a special-called meeting Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30 in order to discuss the future of the police department. Once the meeting is adjourned, the monthly caucus will begin.