Man frustrated at police handling of theft
Posted on Sunday, October 7, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/hl/News/22098/
WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. — A West Siloam Springs man plans to take his concerns about the town’s police chief to the Board of Trustees Tuesday night.
Charlie Orman of Cedar Drive is disappointed about how the police chief handled a theft case. The issue is on the agenda for the 7 p. m. Tuesday meeting at town hall, 4880 Cedar Drive, said Mayor Elaine Carr.
Last month, someone stole copper wire and a lawn trimmer from Orman’s property, he said. The value of the copper wire was more than $ 500.
He reported the theft to police on a Sunday last month. The officer who took the initial report was off duty for the two days after the report was taken.
On the day after Orman made the report, he said, he took Police Chief Mike Sanders some information regarding the theft, and Sanders placed that information in the investigating officer’s file.
Orman said he took Sanders the descriptions and license plate numbers of vehicles which belonged to the people who Orman said committed the theft. The vehicles were at West Siloam Springs Recycling.
Orman said he was disappointed that Sanders did not take this information and investigate the matter himself at that time.
“ If we are going to take care of our own deals, we don’t need cops, ” Orman said.
A receptionist at the police department said all media calls were being forwarded to the town’s attorney, Jot Hartley of Vinita, Okla. Hartley could not be reached for comment.
Carr said the investigating officer on a case is the officer who took the initial report.
“ It’s always been that way, ” she said.
Orman also said several neighbors have been “ ripped off ” recently. His stolen property has yet to be recovered.
Carr said she believed that Orman’s property had been found at the salvage yard, but because it was outside of the city limits, officers couldn’t recover it.
Sheriff Jay Blackfox of Delaware County Sheriff’s Office said he would look into recovering the property. A captain at the sheriff’s office said that sheriff’s deputies sometimes escort officers of other police departments to recover property that might be outside of their city limits.
Orman said he has written a letter to town hall complaining about Sanders.
“ I’m not going to let it go, ” Orman said. “ He’s not doing his job. ”
Sanders has been police chief for at least 10 years, and is appointed by the town board every two years, Carr said. He was reappointed earlier this year.