PEA RIDGE — Citizen responds

Dear editor of Pea Ridge Times,

Allow me to respond to Mr. Boone’s letter which appeared in The Times last week, not as a council member, but as another “concerned citizen.”

I, too, am quite disturbed by the events, but I have collected the facts about the event rather than make judgment by emotion, rumor, hearsay or gossip. As I was out of town and unable to be in attendance, I had to follow the trail of facts to find out what occurred.

My first question, Mr. Boone, is: Where did you obtain your information? Your name was not on the roster of attendees at the council meeting. I have talked to the majority who were in attendance and witnessed the event, therefore I feel I can evaluate the issue in an objective manner based on facts.

The city official chose to leave his home and drive a vehicle knowing he was not in total control. Whether he was sick or under the influence, is in the police and hospital reports. Those are facts on record. Our police chief did not “allow” him to leave the council meeting. Witnesses saw the council member leave the meeting with such speed that even the city attorney did not notice his exit. By the time the chief could contact an on-duty officer, the member was already at his home in the driveway. Our police chief was not remiss in his duties, he handled this event as quickly as was humanly possible. The details are in the official police report.

As far as the mayor “suspecting” that the member was drinking, the event did not last long enough for him to make any assessment. When the city recorder made the chief aware of her suspicions, the member had left and was on the road again. The statement that a “set-up” was made to entrap this individual is an insult to our law enforcement. There could not have been a more “professional” way to handlethis situation.

Ultimately, let’s put the blame where it is deserved and on who chose to break the law and endanger our citizens. It was not our police chief nor our mayor. Their “credibility” should be measured by their performance record rather than rumor, gossip or personal grudge.

From a citizen’s perspective, I am quite proud of both positions and the responsibilities these men perform. From a councilman’s perspective, I see and know the facts that support my observations.

Finally Mr. Boone, I do agree that someone should resign their position and have advised them so. The facts are on record which laws were broken and by whom. However, my recommendation was made not by emotion, rumor, hearsay nor gossip. It was made by obtaining the facts of the situation and out of a deep concern for the reputation of our city. I suggest you do the same before passing judgment on our city officials or police force.

I hope to see you at the next City Council meeting.

Respectfully, BOB COTTINGHAM, CITIZEN AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER Pea Ridge

Opinion, Pages 4 on 04/14/2010