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FROM THE HURRICANE MOMENTS AWAY. BRIANA A MOCKSVILLE TOWN BOARD MEMBER IS NO LONGER STAYING SILENT. AMY VAUGHAN-JONES SPOKE AT TONIGHT’S TOWN HALL MEETING ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES. LAST MONTH, MESSAGES WERE RELEASED FROM HER CELL PHONE, CRITICIZING THE MOCKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN THEM, VAUGHAN JONES RECOMMENDED GETTING RID OF THE DEPARTMENT AND HAVING THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TAKE OVER. ANOTHER VOICED HER CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICE CHIEF HAVING A SECOND JOB. TONIGHT, VAUGHAN JONES ADDRESSED THE TOWN >> MY TEXT MESSAGE TO THE TOWN MANAGER REFLECTING DISSOLVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE AT A TIME OF TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION CONSIDERING I HAD APPROACHED THE MANAGER FOR MANY MONTHS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN WAS CONTINUING TO FIELD COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS. MANY OF THESE ISSUES SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. BRIANA: VAUGHAN-JONES SAID AT TONIGHT’S MEETING THAT 4 OFFICERS RESIGNED IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. RIGHT NOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS C

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Nearly two weeks after heated emails and text messages were released, from the accounts of elected officials on the Mocksville's town board, Amy Vaughan-Jones addressed various concerns during Tuesday's town hall. The town hall meeting had visitors from as far away as Florida and Virginia. Messages from Vaughan-Jones became controversial to the public after the ousting of the police department's therapy cat -- both in-person and on social media.Initially, the town manager, Matt Settlemyer, said Sergeant Butters needed attention outside the police department. Settlemyer refuted claims the request came from Vaughan-Jones.The mayor, William J. Marklin, said the opposite to WXII. Marklin reported that Vaughan-Jones "went up there on her own" and connected with the police department."A Freedom of Information Act request filed by WXII revealed more conversation among the town board members about Sgt. Butters. It also provided text messages where Amy Vaughan-Jones criticized the police department."Also, I would like to ask that at our executive meeting, personnel files are brought of job performance reviews of all of the police department employees...," wrote Vaughan-Jones. "My concern again is for the strength of the leadership at the PD."Vaughan-Jones continues the message with: "Also Matt if you don't mind reporting to us the number of officers who have left as well for other employment. I would also like to know how many officers are on-duty daily and with what responsibilities they have? Have had some complaints the total number of patrolling officers versus those who sit in the PD daily with other responsibilities."The message of concern continues."I am also going to voice my concern with the PD chief having an additional second job! I thought we had given Pat a sizeable raise! I personally feel as if our chief should only be working for the town because we seem to have so many issues within the department. If things were running smoothly, I might find Reagan's position with a part-time job acceptable, but he might need to offer his undivided attention to running the PD with more efficiency."Another text message from Vaughan-Jones reveals her recommendation for the department."...I am in favor of dissolving it (the police department) and going with police protection with the Sheriff's office. Too many complaints coming out of the department among the officers themselves. Like I said, I am concerned with the leadership within the department. When you have officers leaving, then we are not listening to the officer's concerns and to me that becomes a very large issue!"Tuesday, at a town hall meeting, Vaughan-Jones spoke publicly about the comments she made through text messages and emails. It is the first time Vaughan-Jones spoke openly about the matter since the removal of Sgt. Butters --- who is now re-homed and back on social media."I would like to take the time now to address some information that was offered to the citizens of Mocksville that do not reflect factual events," said Amy Vaughan-Jones at the start of her speech. "With respect to my role as a town board member, I fully understand my role having been elected in 2013 and again in 2017. I have served with honesty, integrity, transparency -- representing the citizens of Mocksville over the years. I was voted by the people to represent their interest for the town and to voice their concerns."Vaughan-Jones continued her statement:"Per the school of government publication, 'County and Municipal Government in North Carolina, Second Edition,' these are a few highlighted areas that (are) essential to governing as a town board member in the state of NC. Mocksville is a council-manager form of government with five board members elected at-large. Decisions of the board must be made in an open forum and votes recorded for the public unless the matter at hand is one that should be moved into an executive session -- issues such as personnel or legal issues."Per the school of government, the roles of a town board member include: Expectation 1 - The governing board sets direction by routinely monitoring and evaluating local governments ability to administer and provide efficient and effective public services. The police department is in fact a public service.Expectation 2 - The governing board acts as a body by making clear to the public that the decision power rests with the majority, not with an individual board member.Expectation 7 - The board freely gives and seeks feedback by regularly reviewing and monitoring the local governments finances, programs, and services. This would include all departments within the town government. Additionally, the manager shall be the chief administrator of the city. The manager is responsible for the hiring, disciplining, and removal of all administrative personnel," explained Vaughan-Jones."Further, I would like to share at our last board meeting, all five board members agreed to an outside agency of doing an evaluation of the police department to make sure that we are listening to the complaints of the officers and citizens to determine if the department was operating effectively and efficiently."Regarding my position as a Mocksville town board member, the residents of Mocksville are encouraged to share the concerns with respect to the operations of any department within the town."Numerous complaints were shared with me regarding the fatality on North Main Street in April. With the complaints that came out of the Sgt. Butters Facebook page, I contacted the town manager to share the concerns of the citizens as to the insensitivity to the issue and whether this was the correct form for this information to be shared. In addition to the comments that were posted under the Facebook thread, (there were) comments about the police department not enforcing the speed limit through the section of town. My concern, expressed to the town manager, noted that the town certainly did not need to draw attention to the fact that many were seeing police in a negative light considering we had just settled a 4.1 million dollar lawsuit within the police department."In late June, additional complaints were voiced to me concerning a photo that was again posted on Sgt. Butters' Facebook page that showed Butters on top of a warrant with the name of the person being served the warrant, their address and social security number. Many were shocked to see this type of information that was being shared on the social media site."Again, I expressed my concerns with the town manager with regards to the page and appropriateness. On August 10, there was another Facebook post that was of Jeffery Epstein and the caption below the photo said "Clintons win again!" Clearly, very offensive and very inappropriate. The town manager was notified by many board members of complaints. He removed the Facebook page of Sgt. Butters due to problems of controlling the Facebook page within the department. Ultimately, this responsibility was that of the chief to know what information was being shared from his department to the public in a social media forum."Also, during the past few months, several officers within the department had approached several board members with complaints that involved hostile work environments to them, bullying, unfair write-ups, the health and welfare of all officers and the work environment, as well as officers leaving the department for other employment or other law enforcement agencies. Additionally, there have been, in the past four months, four officers have resigned and left the Mocksville Police Department. Questions have been raised by citizens (about) patrol hours, lack of officers patrolling, and the number of officers that worked daily and their responsibilities. A, I would like to mention, that at our last town board meeting, all five board members agreed to this outside evaluation to determine future needs for our police department going forward. I would like to publicly state that I am not in favor of dissolving the Mocksville Police Department, but I am open to hearing the results of the evaluation and I am ready to make changes that will help us have an effective and efficient police department. My text message to the town manager reflecting dissolving the police department was made at a time of tremendous frustration --- considering I had approached the manager for many months to address the issues within the department. The town's continuing to field the complaints from citizens and many of these issues should've been addressed once prior."In the past week, I have been called out for micromanaging and not knowing or understanding my role on the board. I can assure re you, based on facts presented, I followed my role as offered by the UNC School of Government with degrees in psychology, political science, as well as a masters in education. I have followed the recommended best practices of a town board member as set forth by the School of government. I was born and raised in Mocksville and am a supporter of rescue animals and have four rescue dogs at home. My family did have a rescue cat, but unfortunate he was an outside cat and I do believe the coyotes got him. I am a teacher and I have a wonderful teaching moment to share with my middle school students concerning the effects of cyber-bullying and how that does not work. I teach my students that words that are shared on social media may be deleted, but they can always be found in cyberspace. They should be very conscious of harassment and cyberbulling. Prosecution can be a byproduct of their actions which is a lesson I think we all need to adhere and abide by."Finally, I would like to close by saying there has been a great deal of misinformation that has been offered to the public that is not based on facts and has been driven, by many reasons, but mostly of hate, anger and political gain. I would have appreciated the opportunity to share the facts with our editor of our local paper, prior to the editorial being written, so he could've heard two sides of the story. I am asking you to stop with the false facts, rumors, and innuendos. We should treat each other with respect and kindness as we look for answers for the best interests of our town moving forward," Vaughan-Jones said during Tuesday's meeting.Other board members gave Chief Pat Reagan their support."We have a highly educated chief who is dedicated to this town and I thank you for going above and beyond in all you do," said Brain Williams, town board member."Chief, you have our full support. You know that. Your detectives know that. Your officers know that," said Rob Taylor, town board member.Settlemyer also provided a statement about the pending assessment with the Mocksville Police Department. Several concerns online raised questions on how fair the assessment will be since Vaughan-Jones is "Facebook friends" with a senior consultant at the firm."Developmental Associates has a number of consultants and provides an array of services. Mr. Ruffin is not involved in our assessment. Our assessment is being conducted by two retired police chiefs," said Settlemyer in an e-mail to WXII.No other town board members or town officials made comment about Vaughan-Jones' speech afterward. Reagan said previously he is unable to comment, forwarding inquiries to Settlemyer. However, Vaughan-Jones' son did comment on his mother's behalf. He said in part:"A lot of you have mentioned this notion of 'just being a cat,' but have completely put a blind on the corruption that have been going on in the police department and the recent 4.1 million dollar lawsuit they just got out of," he said. "I know a lot of board members are silent until the facts come out because when the facts come out, a lot of people are going to be regretting what they put online because they are going to look like fools."Vaughan-Jones' son ended his portion of public comment with a plea."I'd like to ask anyone posting on Facebook to immediately stop harassing my mother, Brent and other board members because they are doing a great job and they are just trying to sort this out," he said. "It's a cat. but they are people too -- and when you're on Facebook, mentioning vulgar words about my mother, you're just an online keyboard warrior. You're nothing special. And if you want to come to my house, like you did to Brent house, I'll be waiting outside."