Missouri is the “show me” state but they’re sure showing the rest of us a thing or two. Parma, Missouri is a town of 740 people and is located in the southeast corner of the state.
Its mayor was Randall Ramsey, who held office for 2 terms totaling 37 years. (Yes, you read that correctly: 2 terms totaling 37 years).
The town had a police force of 2 full-time officers and 4 part-time officers. Then all hell broke loose: a former city clerk ran for mayor and beat Mr. Ramsey.
The new mayor is an African American woman named Tyus Byrd who was sworn into office on April 14, 2015. Five of the 6 police officers, the city attorney, the city clerk and the water treatment supervisor all quit. The officers cited “safety concerns” as the reason(s) for their resignations. At this point nobody is saying whether their resignations were submitted because Byrd is a woman or because she is black or because she is both or for some other reason(s). I just plain don’t know why a bunch of police officers would resign from a small town’s police force due to “safety concerns.” My mind immediately leaped to the city records, financial and otherwise. A thorough examination of those records may give some reasons for the mass exodus after a 37-year mayor was ousted.
Meanwhile, interviewed Parmanians (I made that up to indicate residents of Parma) aren’t a bit upset. One said, “I think it's pretty dirty they all quit without giving her a chance. But I don't think they hurt the town any by quitting, because who needs six police for 740 people?” Mayor Byrd said she plans to get things in order for Parma. (Start with the city records, Madam Mayor.)
By Kathy Catanzarite
Source: Kathy Catanzarite - Handelonthelaw.com Staff Writer
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