Some local liberty activists and other concerned locals made an appearance this morning on WKBK‘s “Talkback” as Keene Police Chief Ken Meola was interviewed by former city councilor Cynthia Georgina and current city councilor James Duffy.
Audio of the interview and following calls is here.
During the series of calls, Meola defends the BEARCAT’s alleged use in rescue situations and its militaristic olive green color. He refuses to paint it pink in support of breast cancer research, or even red to be more obvious as an alleged “rescue” vehicle. Cop Block‘s Pete Eyre calls with a challenging question about the contradiction in KPD’s mission statment which is to ostensibly “protect” people, but yet they must first violate those same people in order to get the money to “protect” them. Pete’s question is so challenging in fact, that the only response the hosts can muster is to ignore his question, hang up, then busy out the phones for the remainder of the hour!
Additionally, Meola explains that he refuses to speak with me because he doesn’t like my behavior and the “attacks” on his officers that I “allow” on Free Keene. He claims that the radio was an inappropriate place for me to ask him about this, and I would agree, however I’ve asked him in person and via email, and he refuses to even acknowledge my presence! Of course, I’m not alone in this rude treatment by a so-called “public servant”. He also ignores independent newsman Dave Ridley in this video taken outside a Keene city council meeting.
So, Ken, let me see if I’ve got this straight:
1. You claim to work as a “public servant”.
2. You don’t like it when your officers are critiqued on a public news and opinion blog.
3. You refuse to speak to people you consider to be critical or questioning towards you and your department.
4. You feel like you can ignore people you don’t like, but they can’t ignore you, can they?
5. You will steal our homes and put us in cages if we decide we want to ignore KPD and don’t want to pay for your awful “service”.
If I were in a business and a manager treated me like you do, Ken, I’d not continue to shop there. However, I’m forced at the threat of a gun and a cage to pay for your salary. In contrast, both candidates for sheriff, Eli and Earl, were more than willing to chat with me and are friendly. That’s because unlike you, as public candidates for office, they are actually accountable, just a little bit, to the people. You, Ken, are totally unaccountable to the public and you act like it. You aren’t elected, you’re appointed by the city manager, who’s hired by the city council. Your job is safe for life, unless you really screw something up. The city council is of no concern and will clearly do what you want, as evidenced by their vote on the BEARCAT, either because they worship you or (from what I have heard) fear you.
You really should reconsider ignoring the people who are forced to pay your salary. When people see you behaving like you do around me and Dave Ridley, it just looks bad for you. It happened when I was out at Ward 4 on voting day. I was standing next to someone who was a KPD supporter and he was AMAZED when you walked by, said hello to him and pointedly ignored me and refused to say hello to me. Let’s just say, you didn’t impress him. At some level, you know you don’t have to, because you’re not subject to re-election, but why wouldn’t you want to simply to be a good human being?
I know you’re not a bad guy and that you have good intentions, so why act like this and give people the silent treatment? Has the power gone to your head?