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Letters show rift between Weirton Police Department officers, chief

WEIRTON — In letters responding to the recent reorganization of the Weirton Police Department, the city’s police chief and the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 84 also revealed concerns between the chief and his officers.

Lt. Brian Beatty, president of FOP 84, closed out his letter released Friday morning by noting a vote taken in relation to Chief Rob Alexander and his leadership of the department.

“The Lodge recently took a vote of no confidence regarding the leadership in our police department,” Beatty said. “The result of the vote was clear: 27 of the 32 officers that cast ballots indicated they did not have confidence in the Chief of Police.”

Despite the vote, Beatty said the FOP would work alongside the chief, Mayor Harold Miller, members of Weirton Council and City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo “to ensure the safety of our citizens and officers.”

Alexander, in his own letter on the reorganization, stated, as chief, he is the administrative officer for the department.

“I am tasked with the tough decisions that tend to make me the least popular officer in the Department,” he said. “For obvious reasons, often times my office and the police union are on opposite sides of the fence. I am responsible for all disciplinary action, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I am not at liberty to discuss disciplinary actions or personnel files publicly due to privacy interests of many of my officers. There are complaints from many officers regarding my holding them accountable for their actions, and they think I’m just ‘too mean.’ I think it is my duty to present this City with the best police force possible.”

“Also, it is my duty to recognize and utilize the talents of officers and place them in positions as necessary. There are a lot of feelings hurt when officers do not get chosen for the position they want.

“After officers were given the chance to choice their complaints, I sat down with the FOP President, and we worked things out like we have done many times in the past. We simply cannot make everybody in the Department happy and still effectively and efficiently serve the people of this City.”

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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