Dozier discusses possible lawsuit
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The Town of Dozier on Monday night spent 50 minutes in closed session to discuss possible litigation concerning a COPS grant.
The town was in its fourth year of the Department of Justice COPS grant, when its police chief resigned in 2013.
While the council took no action after the closed-door session, the council spent a good portion of 2013 waiting on input from an attorney on the terms of its grant.
Former police chief Terry Mears resigned in late March 2013, and the town did not replace him.
Mears’ salary was partially funded by the COPS grant.
In May 2013, the town agreed to consult with an attorney to clarify the requirements of the grant in order to avoid violating its terms and having to repay the grant from town funds.
At last night’s meeting Mayor Roger Moody said the executive session was to discuss the COPS grant and mentioned a letter from the Department of Justice.
Since the council met in closed chambers, its unclear what the letter said.
The grant was to expire in June 2013.
The town was without a police force from the time Mears resigned until May 2014, when it signed a contract with the Crenshaw County Commission to allow for sheriff’s deputy to patrol the area. The Housing Authority and the Town of Dozier are paying for the majority of the salary.