Damascus fires chief

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Correspondent

Monday night marked the beginning for new Damascus council members Tommy Hayes and Kenneth Upchurch and the end for Police Chief John Rouse.
After a two-hour closed session, council members Hayes, Upchurch and Mitchel Greer voted to terminate Rouse. Lannis Greene, Johnny Blevins and Jim Cartwright opposed. Mayor Creed Jones cast the deciding vote to terminate the police chief.
Rouse refused to resign.
Police officer Steven McVey was appointed acting chief while the town wades through the application process.
“It’s just as well, I have to have a job for now,” McVey told the council when asked if he’d take the job. “It’s wrong, Chief Rouse has done an excellent job for this town. What has he done wrong?”
“We voted, that’s it,” Jones said.
Officer Ricky Stumbo came forward afterward and told the council, “I put down my badge, you can have my job.”
The council accepted Stumbo’s resignation. 
Rouse worked for the Damascus Police Department for five years. He was made chief after former chief Tony Richardson was terminated in connection with a drug arrest.
Rouse said he had been told during closed session that he would lose his job. He noted that no one on the council had a problem with his job performance or integrity.
“They just didn’t like me,” he said. “I asked if I had any complaints against me because I would like an opportunity to respond. They said they didn’t have any but that they just didn’t like me.”
Rouse said the Damascus squad, now minus two members, is one of the best forces in the area.
“They’re dedicated to their job. I’ll miss working with them.”
In other news, as part of a new $750 litter control grant the council agreed to purchase recycling containers and bags for the town parks during town events.
The close to 60 people crowding the town hall and council members gave a standing ovation to Town Clerk Tonya Triplett who is taking a job at the Abingdon tourism office.
Council member Cartwright announced an additional $582,000 grant to expand the new library from 5,000 square feet to 6,500 square feet and include a tourism center. He said the town should have its new library by next July.
Blevins announced that Trail Days was a success. He said the approximate numbers indicate that the town spent $16,000 and took in $47,000, not including the 303 hours of overtime, about $6,700, police officers turned in.
The council agreed to purchase two pedestrian crossing signs to be placed on Main Street.
During citizen’s comments, resident Tony Williams said that he was “disgusted” that Jim Cartwright called him a druggie during a police advisory committee and demanded his resignation and an apology. According to Williams, Damascus Police Officer Chris Shumate followed Williams into his apartment without cause or warrant. Williams filed a complaint and during a special called meeting Cartwright made disparaging comments.
Cartwright denied that he knew who he was talking about and refused to give an apology during the meeting.
“Why is this kind of behavior not supervised in this town?” resident Bunny Medeiros asked. “Is there no one in charge here?”
Council member Green stood and apologized to Williams on behalf of the council.
Blevins suggested looking into airing council meetings on the local access channel.