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No tickets in Ferriday since Sat.
Published Wednesday, March 12, 2008
FERRIDAY — The Ferriday Police Department hasn’t issued a single ticket or made any arrests since Saturday, and the police chief isn’t happy about it.
Saturday was Election Day in Ferriday, and incumbent Mayor Gene Allen lost his job.
Police Chief Richard Madison, who said he was writing a memo to his officers about the matter Tuesday, said he believes the matters are connected.
“Some people get off track and get discouraged,” Madison said. “It’s my responsibility to put them back on track. I’m saying ‘hey look, you still have to get out there and enforce the laws.’”
The police chief and much of his staff are appointed by the mayor, and Madison said he knew he wouldn’t have a job after June 30.
But Madison said he will continue working as hard as he can until that date.
Since Allen took over as mayor nearly four years ago the police department has become known for the number of tickets written. Anywhere between five and 20 tickets for speeding were written on most days.
Madison said he noticed Monday after he got weekly reports that his officers had not written any citations in three days.
In his memo to his staff — set to go out late Tuesday — Madison’s message was strong, he said.
“All personnel were hired to perform duties in a professional manner,” Madison read. “It is malfeasance to receive a salary from the Town of Ferriday when you are not performing your duties.”
Madison said he was not asking officers to write flippant tickets, and never has, but expected them to issue citations when they saw violations. He said he did not believe that all crime had stopped in Ferriday since Saturday.
“We have a zero tolerance of speeding,” Madison said. “But I’ve never said write anyone a citation that wasn’t breaking the law.
“I realized it was time to bring these young (officers) back to reality. The election is over. It’s done. It’s history.”
Madison did say that the number of tickets was on decline in the weeks leading up to the election, but that was not election related.
“The reason for that was that we gained a foothold in slowing traffic,” he said. “The number didn’t stop because we were trying to win an election.”
Madison said he doesn’t have the authority to hire and fire officers, but that he can and will send them home without pay if they don’t begin to do their jobs again.
Allen said Tuesday afternoon that he had not noticed the lack of reports or arrests and that he left the management of the police department up to Madison.
He said he didn’t believe it had anything to do with the election.
“I want these people to continue to do their jobs,” Allen said. “I’m going to be in office until June 30. If a person is violating the law I want them to enforce the law from all aspects.”
Allen said he would look into the matter Wednesday and take action if necessary.
“This city still has to be run,” he said. “If the police chief chose not to do his job we’ll deal with him. Our officers are going to continue to do their jobs.”
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Talk about making HISTORY!!!!! Sure the decline in tickets had NOTHING to do with the election......
Wouldn't someone trying to make a dope deal be breaking the law????
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know if the police officers of Ferriday are under Louisiana Muncipial Civil Service?
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rushing they are not under civil service.. in fact i believe they are hired and fired directly by the mayor.. in fact the bored does not even have to vote on termination of employees.. but hey thats probably a good thing at this point and time.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a really good thing at this point and time ford30.
Sounds like to me this statement "Madison said he doesn’t have the authority to hire and fire officers, but that he can and will send them home without pay if they don’t begin to do their jobs again." he is saying look out if you are going to be passing through Ferriday.....
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that is exactly what he is saying fire... so everybody better go 33 to be safe and wear your seatbelt.. lol
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't have bald tires or a cracked windshield....
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol but you can sell drugs on the corner LOL
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think I will avoid Ferriday until mid summer. Too much mistrust there at this time.
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Madison should be more concerned with his own problems - he might become more well equated with malfeasance that he wants to in the coming months.
Perhaps when the amount of feces leaving the city government is reduced after the present administration leaves, the diminished pollution will be a good start on increasing water quality.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 5 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"not asking officers to write flippant tickets, and never has." Oh SURE you haven't!!
lmao
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Drug dealers have to go to court to pay fines, if they ever do, where as speeders and taillight offenders have to pay in 30 days. It is a revenue generating thing and that is why they are told to write tickets for anything.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to see what the AG of Louisiana found last week on teh computers in teh City Hall. I bet the real truth may not be known for a while.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
red, not until July anyway. It would be in Glen's best interest to expose every thing if they do find dirt. All the books should be studied and brought to light before he starts his work. This would protect him in his job.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They handed out tickets hand over fist way before Gene Allen was voted into office. Let's see what happens now. Maybe they can change the speed limits and take down the buffet of speed limit signs leaving a gradual speed decrease to something that makes sense for entering the fair city of Ferriday.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In Mississippi, Our former Governor had a law passed that said that all speed limit increases or decreases had to be done in 10 mph increments after he was pulled over in a speed trap. The speed limit went from 55 to 35 in a matter of 100 feet and when he got pulled over, the small town Barney was dumb enough to actually write the ticket. 4 weeks later, the law stated that the increments had to be 10 mph for every 1000 feet.
This made a lot of officers and small town mayors mad, but Kirk Fordice did not care what they said. He was a common sense man.
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glen needs to start at the top and replace every crooked pawn under him. Ferriday making National news as being one of the nations worst speed trap towns. Investigated for profiling. The whole Ferriday Police department needs a little revamping. Get the bad apples out of the barrel!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL, maypops. No tickets, hopefully now, since the focus has been taken off traffic violators, perhaps the work to getting the town to look up to par, can begin!
Posted by opinsab (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just want to get in my car and head over there to ferriday and see if this white girl going around 60 mph gets pulled over!! LOL
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would not push the button to hard there, white girl....lol...
Do not tempt the Lord thy God.......
And do not tempt a cop at a donut shop......
Posted by The_Punisher (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ferriday is/was ticket central, and definitely dope central, and they are worried about speeders? CRAZY!!!!
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went through there earlier today doin almost 50 and past 2 ferriday cops! They Waved at me! LMAO!!!
Posted by Robin58 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me start by saying going around Ferriday doesn't help either. I have to drive through there almost every week. A little over a year ago I left a store over there and just as I pulled out on the highway a cop pulled up beside me, well I had forgotten to put my seat belt on, I should have put it on right then but I didn't want to bring attention to myself so I thought, maybe he won't notice, well he noticed. I did get a ticket but that was OK because he had a valid reason to pull me over. Two weeks later I had to go back through there. I decided to go around Ferriday. About half way through the back way there was a female cop sitting on the side of the road talking to a man that was tending to his horse. I was already going the speed limit, so to make sure that I kept going the speed limit I set my cruise for 40MPH. The S L dropped to 35 and then back to 40 and I just kept my cruise on. I want you to know that she pulled me over after I got back on 84 Hwy and told me I was going 47 in a 35. I did argue with her but she just said, "have a nice day" and left.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ferriday is such a nasty little stinkhole
doze it over and start again
and everthing between there and Vidalia
nothing but trashy trailers and muddy ditches
it's a disgrace over there
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know some hard working people that are not blessed with alot! They live between vidalia and ferriday! I agree with the Ferriday part, but doze everything over between Ferriday and Vidalia? Maybe thats a little far!
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unlike Madison, the officers want a job after June 30. All I have to say is "do the right thing" to the officers.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
great now we can go 26 in a 25 without getting put in jail
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone that goes through that town is too scared to speed.
GO GLEN GO!!!!
BYE BYE GENE, go back to your funeral home until the FBI comes after you...
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oops, GLEN!!!! CLEAN IT UP!!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
YES GENE!!!! CLEAN UP FERRIDAY!!!! CLEAN IT UP!!! Now this is your third go 'round! Do Something!
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4Peace, you sound a little confused. Do you mean Gene or Glenn? I still don't know why you are concerning yourself with Ferriday business. You live in Jackson and went to a Mississippi University. Why do you continue to comment on Ferriday? Sounds like you don't care for Glenn. I doubt you have ever had a conversation with him.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mskitty if you post and repost like teach had to. The last post jumps ahead of the first post......I think teach would like Glen he is a very remarkable man....Teach doesn't care or doesn't seem to care the color of the skin but, the values a person has....
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mskitty,
Natchez may be the actual legal location that many of us lived, but the Miss-Lou was our hometown at heart. We care because we saw how things that effected Ferriday ended up affecting our lives, too. I lived in Natchez, but worked on a farm in Ferriday when I was a teen. That is the reason many of us from the area care about all the small towns in the area. You should be glad that people still care even though we have moved away to support our families and ourselves.
We could just come to this forum and tell all the town in the area where to go and give directions on how to get there. Instead, we come here and try to let our opinions be known so that if things ever get better down there and we come back with our families, it will be worth coming back to.
Have a nice day....
Posted by kellys (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe the chief can make a statement like this, "he can and will send them home without pay if they don’t begin to do their jobs again." How can he say they're not doing their jobs unless he actually witnesses them ignoring a crime? So he's basically saying, don't issue flippant tickets, but you better be issuing tickets to someone if you want to keep your job. That just screams future law suit.
Posted by justice (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chief do you really want Ferriday to be known as a place to be avoided by travelers ? Real police work involves more than just having officers focus 100% of their time on writing and issuing so called speeding tickets . To the people of Ferriday , do you want your community to be known as a ticket writing trap ?
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To those who have commented about my last post, I grow tired of people who do not live here telling the people that have stayed to work, raise a family and pay taxes, how things should be done. If you truly care about this area you could return after college and invest time, money and energy into the Miss-Lou. Then you will have a right to complain about the state of affairs in this area. Until then, try to make whatever little area of the universe you live in a better place.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mskitty, I am sure if there were viable industries there, people would return after college. You see, they can't because their aren't. Be happy you were able to stay, and work and carve out a living. I could not come back to Natchez after college, so the same issue is there. I found viable work in Jackson, MS. Glad to be there.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
glad you are there
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i work and own my own small business just outside of Jackson. I tried to go back to Natchez in 2001, but the only work I could find was making half what I was making here at the time, so I had to move back to Jackson. I tried and am now here trying to shine the light on the things that have held Natchez and surrounding areas down for so long. It is my hope that one day I can bring my children down there and not have to explain how wonderful IT USED TO BE TO THEM. I wish they could see how great it can be if the changes that need to be made were done SOON.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mskitty why are you so mean to teach? Teach has her reasons for not being here just like alot of people...We had to move to Jackson about 10 years ago due to jobs....Was fortunate enough be able to move back due to 7 and 7 work (drilling rig)....
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms kitty must be off her meds again....The guys are coming with the coat with the extra long sleeves on it, so you better be a good kitty or you will not get any pudding with your dinner this evening...
Just kidding...lol
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people can't handle the truth. The USM part speaks volumes. Just kidding...lol
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks guys, I am not moved by someone's hatefulness towards me, my skin is thick, besides, this is internet you know, I am pretty sure I would enjoy some of you if I could meet you in person!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mskitty you are correct some people can't handle the truth......
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You'll do well for yourself Teach4Peace. Keep the faith.
Posted by blessedmommy (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe glenn will do away with the traffic court being held by the mayor. the amount of revenue brought in by the tickets directly supports the mayor and the administration in ferriday so that right there is enough reason to find everyone guilty who tries to fight a ticket. i did some figuring on the average amount of revenue brought in by the tickets and the figures are astounding. if you average the between 5 and 20 tickets daily at the bare minimum of $50 per ticket the average amount of income yearly, based solely on the tickets,comes to $228,125.00. That is just a loose estimate because most tickets are over $50 but you guys get the point.
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