Hogan’s a hero

I am very distressed that Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan has decided to retire. This is a clear signal to me that [city staff] does not know the quality character of this city official or the workings of the Asheville Police Department. I suggest that each of [them] become better informed.

At 64 years old, as a retired teacher and the 2004 Humanitarian for the state of Illinois, I have served my communities in many ways — some political. In my service, I can honestly assure you that I have only met two other public servants with as much integrity and honesty as Chief Hogan.

For [city staff] to better serve Asheville, you need to: Participate in a police ride-along; attend the Asheville Citizen’s Police Academy; encourage Chief Hogan to reconsider his decision to retire; and provide the Asheville Police Department officers and staff with a salary increase, possibly cutting other city salaries (these dedicated public servants have not had a salary increase in three years).

Asheville will never find another police chief with as much honor and open honesty as William Hogan. He has chosen to retire to make this unfortunate evidence-room situation easier for everyone else.

A trusted person has betrayed Asheville. Nevertheless, this is no reason to allow Chief Hogan to be the scapegoat. He is an impressive public official with an outstanding record. Yes, the situation is a call to action — for [city staff] to become better informed about the mechanics of the Asheville Police Department and its hardworking officers.

The challenge is noted above.

— P. Diane Chambers
Asheville

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12 thoughts on “Hogan’s a hero

  1. boatrocker

    Hogan’s no ‘scapegoat’- one (or more) of his underlings committed a crime by stealing evidence. Just as a captain of a ship bears the ultimate responsibility for the well being of the ship at the end of the day, so does a police chief with the APD. Good for you, Hogan, for taking the fall so crooked Asheville cops can be sent a clear message that taxpayers won’t support this. If only Bobby Medford (a crooked cop if there was one) could’ve went so quietly. Cronyism lives at the APD as does the “blue wall of silence”. Period.

  2. LOKEL

    HE allegedly made the decision to “retire” on his own.

    Perhaps by retiring when he did, he will get to keep his pension and retirement even in the event of criminal wrong doing in his own department under his watch.

  3. Dionysis

    Perhaps the letter-writer should offer her services to the City as a consultant, since she seems to know precisely what the City should do and how they should behave. And, after all, she did issue a “challenge.”

  4. cwaster

    Leadership involves accountability. Someone under his watch stole evidence. That’s bad.

  5. travelah

    APD under Hogan’s leadership? Was he in charge when his boys tazered the woman walking the dog?

  6. cwaster

    God help me, but I have to agree with Travelah. That was a totally messed up situation. Or maybe the people getting arrested while flying their flag the ‘wrong’ way… or maybe the harassment of an officer by her superior… or maybe… yeah. You get the picture.

  7. The Trolls Troll

    Let’s not forget the time some of Hogan’s heroes Tasered an elderly, obvious mentally disabled black man, who they thought threw a rock at their patrol car (he didn’t) and “resisted” arrest.

    I think we need a regime change in Asheville, and that means showing Gary Jackson and Jeff Richardson the door. If City Council won’t take action, then perhaps voters should show city councilors the door.

  8. dpewen

    The letter writer does not know the meaning of a hero … seems many amerikans do not.

  9. phantom28804

    The thing that I have to point out on this are two parts. 1. The poster states that “These dedicated Public servants should get a salary increase. Even if it means they cut other employees salaries.” The problem I have here is that I am a dedicated public servant as well with the City, and I haven’t had a salary increase in 3 yrs either. However, I am pretty sure that the police and fire dept have continued to recieve at least a cost of living increase for the last 3 yrs to ensure that the officers did not keep leaving. To suggest that these Public Servants are some how more important then the other dedicated public servants in the city is quite frankly insulting.

  10. cwaster

    Apparently somebody got an “increase”- at the expense of the evidence room.

  11. Xina

    Phantom, the police have received no raises in the past 3 years unless there was a promotion of some sort involved.

  12. Buncy

    Remember Mary Ann Wilcox? She was a passenger in a car shot up by APD officers Gonce, Hogan, Intveld, and Clinard, although she was innocent and the police were after the driver, Larry Wilson.

    Wilcox had to sue Asheville, APD, Bill Hogan, and the officers who shot her, and nearly killed her, because they all refused to accept responsibility for putting bullets in her liver, spleen, and legs.

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