Amarillo Mayor Paul Harpole said it quite well last night.
Interim City Manager Terry Childers’ expression of “regret” over the way he handled a 911 call is sufficient. It’s time to “move on,” Harpole said.
For those who might not know what happened, here it is:
Childers called the Amarillo emergency call center to report a “stolen” briefcase. He became agitated when the dispatcher — acting in accordance with established protocol — began asking a series of questions. Childers wanted the cops to arrive at the hotel. He threatened to “shut down” the hotel and search for the briefcase.
He also bullied the dispatcher, telling her she didn’t know who she was “dealing with.” Actually, she knew that Childers is the city manager, as he told her so when he placed the call.
Well, Childers ended up misplacing the briefcase. It was recovered. Childers said the tone he used with the dispatcher “was not consistent” with the standards he sets for himself and those who work at City Hall.
The recording of at least three phone calls, though, went viral through the city, prompting a lot of questions about the way Childers treats other public employees.
This has been an embarrassment for the city.
I have commented on this matter in this forum, but I am more than willing now to move on, as the mayor has suggested.
The city made some changes effective immediately at the call center as a result of the call. I am not going to comment on whether the changes are justified. I only wish that the city emergency services hierarchy had let it be known before now about alleged problems with the call center operation.
As for the interim manager and his relationship with the folks who hired him — the five men who serve on the City Council — let’s hope they work this out among themselves. They do, after all, work for the rest of us.
Let us also hope that the city proceeds with all deliberate speed in finding a permanent manager.
Now, Mr. Manager, get back to work.