Keep The Police

Commission Intact

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the citizens of Newtown for allowing me to serve as one of your police commissioners for the past eight years. During my service on the Police Commission I’ve had the pleasure working with four other outstanding and caring individuals. Each commissioner is solely concerned with the safety and well-being for all Newtown Citizens. Decisions are made based on law, the well-being and the safety and welfare for all the citizens of Newtown. Each commissioner has always brought something special to the decisionmaking process and is an independent thinker.

There are two other people who are part of this team I have not mentioned. Without their experience, expertise in police and personnel issues the commission’s job would have been more difficult. Those two people are Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios. Because Chief Kehoe always kept the commission well informed on all matters, he made the commission’s job easier. Whenever concerns were brought forward, the commission could always depend on straight and honest assessments along with what the law requires from Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios. There isn’t enough room in this letter to outline the contributions these two individuals have made to the Town of Newtown and the Newtown Police Department.

There is an individual from the Independent party trying to get on the Police Commission. Because I receive The Newtown Bee in Florida I can’t help but notice his letters to the editor. I’m amazed at all the cheap shots and untrue comments he has made against the commission and the police chief. I realize this is politics but I think the citizens of Newtown should realize that what this person is saying is out of line and in most cases half true. Without getting into a battle, all I ask is that the people of Newtown ask questions, read the meeting minutes, and attend meetings to find out the total truth. The fact that this person’s original party would not support him or his ideas plus the committees he was on he could not achieve his ideas, should raise serious doubts about this person being on a commission as important as the Police Commission.

In closing I urge each and every citizen in Newtown to keep this commission intact in November. I also urge that each Newtown citizen attend Police Commission meetings, meet the commissioners, and meet Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios. When you do this you will realize the dedication, concern for all the people of Newtown and honesty these town servants have and have shown.

Richard Simon

Former Police Commission Member

Anthony, Fla.                                                           September 24, 2007