Town, Wilson want venue change
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John Wilson
BELOIT TOWNSHIP — The town of Beloit and its former police chief have filed for a change of venue in the first of several federal cases pending against them.
Meanwhile, one of five current and former employees suing the chief has been placed on administrative leave, and the town board continues to talk about hiring an interim chief and a permanent one.
Former Town of Beloit Police Chief John Wilson and the town on Monday filed for a change of venue in a lawsuit filed by Anthony Smith, the owner of a local towing company. The change is necessary because of the media coverage of Smith's suit and others filed by department employees, according to court documents.
Smith, who is black, claims Wilson refused to put his business on the department's towing list because of Smith's race.
The case is scheduled to be heard in Madison in April. The motion requests it be moved to Superior, according to court documents.
The case has received substantial media coverage in southern Wisconsin, the documents state. The other pending lawsuits were filed by employees who claim Wilson retaliated against them when they spoke out against his racist behavior.
Wilson retired Jan. 17.
The town appointed Sgt. Laura Palmer acting chief and intends to hire an interim chief before hiring a permanent one, said town Administrator Bob Museus. One of three people who have filed papers to be considered as interim chief is Sgt. David Dransfield, one of the employees suing Wilson.
On Thursday, Dransfield said he was placed on paid administrative leave.
Dransfield said that according to a letter delivered to him and signed by Museus, Dransfield is being investigated for violating the town's harassment policies.
Beloit Town Board Chairman David Townsend confirmed Monday that Dransfield, who has worked for the town since 1984, is on administrative leave.
The town could consider creating one position to oversee its police and fire departments in the future. During a workshop meeting Monday, the board directed Museus to research how to conduct a feasibility study of such a position.
The change would not create a position but would create one administrator for the two departments and leave supervisors to oversee employees, Museus said. The town could save money with the change, he said.
Feb 3, 2011 at 8:01 p.m.
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Isn't Mr. Museus from Michigan?
Feb 3, 2011 at 9:08 a.m.
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Superior!!?!?! Is that a joke? That's as far north as Beloit is south. What a stupid request.
Feb 2, 2011 at 8:11 p.m.
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He created this mess here. He needs to face his peers here. What is he afraid of? That there will be black people on the jury? Well, there are people of color all over the country and guess what? It's ok! I say we hold it in Jacksonville, Mississippi!
Feb 2, 2011 at 9:24 a.m.
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on the change of venue situation,no way they should get that,because if it was one of us,theyd say no.he doesnt want to face a jury of his peers in his own town,tough,time to put on his big girl panties and man up.
Feb 2, 2011 at 9:21 a.m.
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the statement(they protect their own)is the truth in rock county,and yes it does need a courtesy flush,these towns need mayors,not the sheriffs department and the judges running the town,and they need a person who isnt buddy,buddy with everyone one on the force or the bench.beloit and janesville used to be good places to live,and now,not so much anymore.its very sad to see whats going on here,most of the people in this town and their upper crust friends are not very nice to be around,they think theyre better than everyone,and think they can do what they want and get away with it,sad thing is they do.good luck on this one.
Feb 1, 2011 at 9:15 p.m.
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Sandman is probably one of the officers who has been or needs to be fired too.
Feb 1, 2011 at 7:32 p.m.
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Never say many (including me) didn't try to say what was going on down there for months and months now, and it is far from over yet! That whole town administration needs a courtesy flush to rid itself of the stench of mismanagement and inaction--failure to supervise and deliberate indifference.
They can take it to Siberia if they like, but it won't change the facts, and the outcome!
Feb 1, 2011 at 6:39 p.m.
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The gets worse all the time. Perhaps tthe town would be better served if the entire town board resigned and the police department disbanded.
Feb 1, 2011 at 5:12 p.m.
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Without making any judgment, or comment specifically on this article, I sometimes wonder if societal values are changing faster then they should. Of course, others think they're not changing fast enough for them. That's OK too, but we need to understand change sometimes needs to be tempered with the understanding that it takes at least a generation or two for the change to sink in. Since I was raised in the 1960s and 1970s, I've lived all my life with racial sensitivity in our society, thanks to the brave men and women who fought for their rights around that time. If someone was raised earlier it might be harder for them to change. I've seen that often in people older than me.
Feb 1, 2011 at 4:11 p.m.
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I think the best long term solution for Beloit Township is to dissolve the PD. There seems to be just too much politics to maintain a department.
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