He went on to serve with the UAB Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, where he has been for at least two decades. He even claimed that he wore a bulletproof vest to council meetings a few times because he feared for his safety. In fact, I take those obstacles and I take their attempts to discredit me as motivation to keep going forward.. Newton said the discord has continued. Newton said he also started an environmental task force and he is currently working on a project to refurbish and use vacant buildings and on a plan to bring a charter school to the city. Freddie Rubio, the city attorney of Tarrant, declined to comment on any formal complaints of harassment against Mayor Newton, and did not respond to a subsequent request for comment about whether procedures had been followed in firing employees. Site Map. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021, after 42 years in law enforcement. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. Lets get to the bottom of it and see who is lying.. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriffs Capt. We have lived in the past, he said. Police | Tarrant, AL Police Call 911 in case of emergency. The former police chief alleged that Newton closed a door in the mayors office on his arm, but the Tarrant mayor called the allegations false. The incident was caught on camera. He never gave me a chance.', Reno said he told Newton during the only conversation they had about the racial makeup of the police force was, I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. I didnt cuss him back. The former chief said thats what started the verbal altercation. That incident ultimately led to a misdemeanor assault charge filed by Reno against Newton. Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. Laura Horton, 73, who served on the city council for 20 years before losing her re-election bid in 2020, echoed Bryants assessment of Newton. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. The Black 41-year-old claimed the mayor has also made other positive changes in the city, such as starting a farmers market, providing greater access to the community center, and feeding the poorest city residents. I only worked for him for two hours. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. Were going to continue to rebuild the city. Tarrant Police Department 2593 Commerce Cir Tarrant, AL 35217 205-849-2811 The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is the police department that serves the area, where Mike Hale is the sheriff. I wasnt shocked because I knew I didnt do any of the stuff they accused me of doing, Newton said Wednesday. The two divisions within the Department, Administrative Services and Operational Services, provide numerous specialized public safety services to the citizens of Hurst. Reno retired after the incident. Major replaces former Chief Dennis Reno, who left the position in November 2020 after a run-in with Newton. He never gave me a chance.. He called the charges a political stunt to smear his name. Newton was arrested on June 16 and charged with third-degree assault, according to records from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, which declined to elaborate on the charges prior to publication. 2,044 Sq. Newton said the ongoing discord hasnt been easy and at times hes wanted to lash out. This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated., Asked for a response to the mayors statement, Reno said, I only worked for him for two hours. The problem is, the four individuals on the council, they know their time is up, Newton said. He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. At that time, my lieutenant for the police department was in ICU with COVID and I told him I would need a little bit more time to get that information because all of the files was on the lieutenants computer and I said, I dont have access to his computer. He jumps up from his desk and I will tell you exactly what he said. Were in 2021 and its time for everybody to come together and work together to make this a great city., Hes going to make it. Bryant wondered why Newton wasnt putting himself on leave given the fact that he fired Rickels for his charge. The white 25-year-old said she supports Newton because he has made an attempt to bring needed youth activities to the city, and has helped the police department make great strides. We have lived in the past, he said. Tarrant, AL 35217. The city of Tarrant considers these actions absolutely irresponsible and reckless, Newton said in a statement announcing Rickelss termination. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Bryant also blamed the mayor for firing people without the input of other city officials, such as when he axed Jason Rickels, the former fire department chief in Tarrant, after Rickels was arrested in Georgia in March. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. Newton held a press conference at Tarrant City Hall on Thursday to discuss the case. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Im in charge of employees, he told The Daily Beast. Whos the racist here? She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. The councilman went on to say longtime city employees were in a hostile situation under Newtons leadership, and accused the mayor of harassing multiple employees, including himself. Crime news across America. Newton on Thursday said Majors record of service proves hes the right man for the job and said he looks forward to having him as the departments chief. George confirmed that changes to the department made it so that one officer would be in charge of the internal affairs department, rather than a previous system that would tap an available detective or lieutenant to handle complaints. During his time as chief, Reno said he had a panel of three that recommend the hiring of officers, so he denies any claim that he had any discriminatory hiring practices. And Mayor Newton is trying to correct the things that had been so bad about the city of Tarrant from the previous administrationlike not having Black officers.. Bryant, who is white, also said his opposition to Newton has nothing to do with his race but rather stemmed from Newton trampling on the established ways of doing things and instilling a culture of fear among current and city employees because of his temper. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. City Ordinances. Reno said his left elbow was injured in the incident. Newton said the opposition reached its apex last week, when Dennis Reno, the white former chief of police in Tarrant, accused the mayor of assaulting him during a conversation in Newtons office a day after his swearing-in back in November. by SOLD FEB 16, 2023. Find an Ordinance; Apply For a Job; Submit a Bid; Submit a Comment; . My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. The alleged assault occurred in November after he was elected mayor. This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Tarrant City Police Department - Tarrant, Alabama. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after the city's former police chief swore out a warrant on him. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. Newton turned himself into the Jefferson County Jail on Wednesday and was released a short time later after posting a $1,000 bond. Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on him shortly after he was put into office. Theyve blocked him from making what he and some locals describe as needed changes to the police department in a city mostly comprised of Black and Latino residents, he said. Jason Rickles was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree criminal damage to property and possession of a deadly weapon after an incident in Roswell, Ga. on March 12. Former Tarrant Police Chief responds to Mayors claims of discriminatory hiring practices, Obituary: Myra Carroll (August 22, 1937 February 23, 2023), Obituary: Sherry Webster Zorn (August 21, 1948 February 22, 2023), Obituary: Joy Silvey (August 2, 1932 February 26, 2023), Obituary: Grace Mixon (March 6, 1935 February 25, 2023), Obituary: Donald Leo Taylor (Sept. 13, 1938 Feb. 23, 2023) and Pamela Taylor (Nov. 5, 1943 Feb. 23, 2023), Trussville Police respond to 2 fights at Hewitt-Trussville High School today, Jasper man dies after single-vehicle collision in Hoover, Alabama State Chapter Receives NWTF Acreage Award, Savvy Senior: How to protect seniors from scam calls, Whats really happening in the new Tarrant, WATCH: Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton addresses his assault charge, Birmingham TV stations chip in, allowing ABC 33/40 employees to attend anchors funeral, Birmingham-Southern College: A solid investment for Alabama, 65-year-old pedestrian dies after dog attack in McDonalds Chapel Community. Certainly, were glad to have him join us, Newton said. TARRANT The mayor of Tarrant was arrested on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. OPEN GOV US GOV US. He aint going to cuss me. North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Project 25 Phase II.

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