A personal response from Keller on why he voted for the police merger

After reading about how Ballard is promising, if elected, to abolish the police merger, I decided to write my current councillor to see if that was really a possibility.  I also asked him to please explain why he voted for the merger even though he was first against it.  Below was his response:

Actually, I voted against it the first time but for it after all my amendments were included, one of which required the officers themselves (43 of them) to come up with the resolutions to complete the merger. It is not possible to undo the merger, which was allowed by State law.  The Sheriff appoints the Police Chief, then Mayor must approve, then the Council.  We could, maybe, remove Sheriff. I voted for merger because it would free up desk guys to go on the road (137); because it would save some money (about $7,000,000 so far, less than estimates); because it would bring needed professionalism to the Sheriff’s Department (long a hotbed of politics regardless of who is Sheriff); because Marion County is nearly built-out; and because of efficiencies achieved, whether they save money or not.

Keller revives Police Merger vote

Councilman Scott Keller is a key reason for the revival. He says he’ll support the plan now with a promise in writing that officers will not be moved to the suburbs.

“I voted against it then, they were happy, but I think when this goes through, everyone will buckle down and do the work that will make it work. And I’m for that.” (WTHR News Dec. 14, 2005)

Keller says it makes no sense to have two police forces

Republican Scott Keller says this time he’ll vote yes, presumably giving it the votes it needs to pass. “It’s effective, efficient and particularly, as time goes, no it doesn’t make sense to have two police forces in a county 20 miles wide by 20 miles deep.” (WTHR News, Dec. 19, 2005)

Keller accused of trading votes

Republican Scott Keller, a ‘no’ vote last time, says this time he’ll support the police merger, giving it the one vote it needs to pass. “What’s changed is the number of people who’ve approached me and said, ‘Look, it’s now or never and we need to revisit this.’”Republican colleague Jim Bradford is furious. He accuses Keller of selling out, agreeing to vote for consolidation as long as Council President Steve Talley agreed to vote for a proposal banning discrimination against gays and lesbians. “I think Scott Keller and Steve Talley swapped votes to get what they wanted to get done, and it’s absolutely wrong.” (WTHR News Dec. 13, 2005)

Keller accused of selling votes

Holding the decisive vote, Republican Scott Keller has changed his mind. Keller first opposed consolidation, but now supports it. He has been accused of political manipulation. “There was no deal with (council president) Steve Talley, and as you heard tonight, someone said there was buying of votes. There was no buying or selling of any votes, nor trading,” Keller said. (RTV6 News, Dec. 15, 2005)

Keller receives hate email regarding his support of police merger

“I do, and for those really hateful e-mails, I have a Smith and Wesson,” Keller said. (RTV6 News, Dec. 14, 2005)