11-17-2007, 09:37 PM
Murphy – Cherokee County officials fielded criticism Monday as citizens voiced their suspicions that favoritism affected the recent hiring of 911 Dispatch Supervisor Larry Cannan.
Responding to concerns that he abused his authority to influence the county’s selection of Cannan, Commission Chairman Jonathan ****ey defended his statement that he was not directly nor unethically involved with the hiring process for the position.
“You’ve insinuated that I’ve told a lie, and I didn’t,” ****ey said during the public forum of the commission’s meeting at the courthouse.
While the commission is consulted about the county’s personnel matters, Commissioner David Sumpter said it does not interfere with the hiring of new employees because of the potential for a conflict of interest. That was the situation with Cannan, who worked for ****ey at Fatback’s Citgo for six years before he began his job with the county on Oct. 22.
“Maybe we need to – as a board – take a look into this process,” said local resident Mary Miller, who questioned County Manager David Badger about his decision to choose Cannan over two other applicants with “more extensive” experience in law enforcement.
Miller, who has a background in public safety, also said Cannan does not have the 17 years of law enforcement service Badger said he brought with him to the job. After reviewing Cannan’s resume, Badger corrected himself and said Cannan indicated that he worked for 16 years in various roles for the Broward County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office and Boca Raton (Fla.) Police Department.
According to a “Global Profile Sheet” provided by Brenda Presnell, an administrative assistant for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Cannan’s employment with Broward County began in July 1989 and ended in February 1994, while his service with Boca Raton immediately followed and lasted through April 2000, which totals less than 11 years. Cannan said the information regarding his time with Broward County is inaccurate, as he began working in its corrections department in 1985.
However, the dates of employment on record with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement correspond with those provided by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Yvonna Lacy, a specialist in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office’s Bureau of Human Resources, said Cannan served as a detention officer and deputy from July 1989 to February 1994.
Pressed by Miller to elaborate on the county’s screening process for the supervisor position, Badger said personnel laws prohibit him from offering further details about the 11 applicants who were considered.
Information obtained by the Cherokee Scout shows there were at least two other local applicants for the position with more recent and lengthy law enforcement and communications experience.
Responding to concerns that he abused his authority to influence the county’s selection of Cannan, Commission Chairman Jonathan ****ey defended his statement that he was not directly nor unethically involved with the hiring process for the position.
“You’ve insinuated that I’ve told a lie, and I didn’t,” ****ey said during the public forum of the commission’s meeting at the courthouse.
While the commission is consulted about the county’s personnel matters, Commissioner David Sumpter said it does not interfere with the hiring of new employees because of the potential for a conflict of interest. That was the situation with Cannan, who worked for ****ey at Fatback’s Citgo for six years before he began his job with the county on Oct. 22.
“Maybe we need to – as a board – take a look into this process,” said local resident Mary Miller, who questioned County Manager David Badger about his decision to choose Cannan over two other applicants with “more extensive” experience in law enforcement.
Miller, who has a background in public safety, also said Cannan does not have the 17 years of law enforcement service Badger said he brought with him to the job. After reviewing Cannan’s resume, Badger corrected himself and said Cannan indicated that he worked for 16 years in various roles for the Broward County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office and Boca Raton (Fla.) Police Department.
According to a “Global Profile Sheet” provided by Brenda Presnell, an administrative assistant for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Cannan’s employment with Broward County began in July 1989 and ended in February 1994, while his service with Boca Raton immediately followed and lasted through April 2000, which totals less than 11 years. Cannan said the information regarding his time with Broward County is inaccurate, as he began working in its corrections department in 1985.
However, the dates of employment on record with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement correspond with those provided by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Yvonna Lacy, a specialist in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office’s Bureau of Human Resources, said Cannan served as a detention officer and deputy from July 1989 to February 1994.
Pressed by Miller to elaborate on the county’s screening process for the supervisor position, Badger said personnel laws prohibit him from offering further details about the 11 applicants who were considered.
Information obtained by the Cherokee Scout shows there were at least two other local applicants for the position with more recent and lengthy law enforcement and communications experience.