Spencer Residents Voice Outrage Over Police Department's Shortfalls

By Rusty Surette, News 9

SPENCER, Oklahoma -- Concerned citizens refused to stay silent at a city council meeting in Spencer Thursday and police had to be called in to help control the situation.

More than two dozen filled city council chambers Thursday night at Spencer City Hall. Most where there to express concerns about the Spencer Police Department.

Last month News 9 reported the city was refusing to pay overtime to officers due to budget concerns, but some citizens aren't buying the excuse and wanted to express their frustrations to the city council Thursday night.

The council, however, refused to let anyone speak during the public comment portion of the meeting because the issue wasn't on the meeting's agenda.

"I signed up to speak on behalf of the police department and what's going on in this town," yelled Spencer resident Tonya Hemkin to the council. "There is stuff going on in this town that needs to be brought up and mentioned."

"You're just going to have to sign up [to speak] when it's [the police department issue] on the agenda," responded Spencer Mayor Earnest Ware.

The Spencer mayor repeated several times that the crowd was "out of order" when they voiced their displeasure with the council, and eventually police were called in to help calm the crowd. It was noted that a Nicoma Park Police officer responded to the rowdy meeting because a Spencer Police officer was not on-duty Thursday evening.

According to the Oklahoma Municipal League, the city has every right to silence citizens during a city council meeting. Spencer City Manager Nicole Mukes said the city council wants to meet with police in private before taking up the issue in a public setting.

One of Spencer's officers walked off the job Thursday because of the overtime issue. There are now six officers on the force, including the police chief who is currently recovering from a medical issue.

More:

• Spencer Budget Woes Could Be Affecting Public Safety