Marshall city officials are mum about the absence of Marshall Public Safety Chief Mike Olson (who, according to sources, met with Marshall city council members in a closed meeting following Tuesday's regular council session. Olson allegedly was absent from the open meeting but appeared for the closed meeting with a labor attorney, though Marshall City Manager Chris Olson has declined comment. Mike Olson, who joined the department in late 2003, replaced Ron Ivey who resigned to take a job at Kellogg Community College. Deputy Public Safety Chief Brett Pehrson recently resigned to accept a job as Coldwater Public Safety Director and Olson had two weeks ago advertised for applications to fill that position. Mike Olson told the Chronicle Thursday, Jan. 17 that applications were being received by the human resources department but he had not yet reviewed any of the incoming resumes. Sources have said Mike Olson was to be placed on administrative leave Tuesday but he instead allegedly tendered his resignation though city officials would not confirm nor deny the information. Attempts to reach Mike Olson were unsuccessful. Mayor Bruce Smith said only that the matter is nothing to be alarmed about. Chris Olson has reportedly said there are people in leadership positions currently running the department.
6 comments:
So, who's the acting chief of Marshall PD? Why the secrecy? Don't you think that the citizens have a right to know?
I've known Chief Olson since his days with MSP. Chief Olson is hands down the best Law Enforcement Officer I have met in my career. If he choses to leave his position in Marshall it will be a serious loss to citizens of this community. It is sad to see him fall victim to small town politics....
Very respectfully, Mr. Smith, you are full of shit. Pardon the term and I also apologize to any tender ears out there, but this whole situation is very important. The top two public safety officials are gone. One to another town, greener pastures for sure and the other, who knows?
This mayor and this council best get a hold on this problem before it results in something serious happening.
I see a huge potential for liablility if we do not have anyone in charge of our public safety forces in this city.
This was an outstanding Editorial Opinon in the Battle Creek Enquirer,January 30, 2007
"A chief concern: Lack of explanation lets rumors flourish"
Marshall's public safety director apparently has been off the job for almost a week now with no explanation. Like the public, we have no idea what has happened to Mike Olson in his role as head of Marshall's police force.
Marshall City Manager Chris Olson - no relation to Mike Olson - has assured Marshall residents that "police command has been taken care of" and that Mike Olson's absence has had no effect on police operations.
We have to wonder how the lack of a director can have no effect on a police department, particularly since the deputy police chief left earlier this month for a new job in Coldwater.
But of greater concern is the attitude that the public is not owed any explanation.
Municipal government is not a private enterprise. It is funded by public money and therefore is accountable to the taxpayers who provide that revenue. The idea that the public does not need to know what is going on within its public safety department should offend residents who pay for a government which they expect to operate openly and efficiently.
We are sensitive to the fact that circumstances arise that need thorough investigation before they are publicly explained. But Marshall officials should at least be able to tell residents whether Mike Olson has been placed on administrative leave, paid or unpaid, until such time as a decision on his employment status can be announced.
To not do so only undermines public trust in government and contributes to a rumor mill fueled by rampant speculation. Such rumors often can be vicious and far from the truth, yet with no official explanation they are allowed to spread and damage reputations.
Marshall residents are owed an explanation about what has happened to their public safety director, and we hope that one is forthcoming soon.
Written by Enquirer Editorial Board, submitted by Jim Carlin,
Justinian Investigative Services
I think that the lack of information provided by the City of Marshall public officials reinforces the current thoughts of many of its citizens about their city government. Many citizens are fed up with the lack of information and lack of action by city government. Let's all remember that we are paying the salaries for these people and they owe it to us, their constituents to be more forthcoming.
Lets get that idiot private eye to be our next PSO director.... He knows ways to arrest people without evidence...
Two people are together, one is missing, and there is NO evidence but that idiot private eye knows some way to arrest a person and charge him with a crime.
We all have a GUT feeling that Pratt did something. The only bad thing is this LAW thing and the rights that even BAD people have.
Shy of Chinese water torcher, Pratt is NOT going to tell on himself. That idiot private eye thinks if he makes the police angry at him, somehow this will make Pratt TALK and say... no the police didn't do it, I did...
YEAH RIGHT, that is why he is a Monday morning QB and NOT the REAL THING...
I have a map for that private eye... go to I-94 and turn left, keep driving.
I miss Mary but, yelling at the police will NOT make Pratt talk.
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