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Allen Weston (August 7, 2012) |
LANCASTER — Allen Weston is no longer assistant police chief of Lancaster, but as a police officer he has been an instrumental part of recent child abuse and drug arrests.
Police Chief Rodney Kidd mentioned Weston’s recent contributions to the department during a report to the City Council at its Monday meeting.
He referred to Weston several times as “officer” and confirmed after the meeting that Weston was no longer assistant police chief.
Last month, Mayor Brenda Powers and several City Council members argued about Kidd’s proposed restructuring of the department.
The nine-member department had four administrators, including Kidd. Councilman Bret Baierlein said having too many commanders put citizens at risk. Powers agreed to allow Kidd to restructure the department.
Weston was interim police chief, but the City Council rebuffed Powers’ multiple attempts to hire him for the permanent post because he did not have a lot of administrative experience.
Kidd, a former Louisville Metro Police sergeant, stepped into the new post seven months ago.
“Officer Weston has had two good drug trafficking arrests recently,” Kidd said.
Out of 43 arrests in July, 13 were for narcotics.
“The mayor and the council wanted us to work on this pill problem when you hired me,” Kidd said.
In other business, the council unanimously passed first reading of the property tax ordinance and scheduled its next reading for 7 p.m. Aug. 14. Under the resolution, there would be no increases in property taxes in the city.
However, city officials are researching the possibility of raising alcohol taxes. Baierlein has drafted an ordinance that would increase alcohol taxes by 1 percent.
Currently, people purchasing alcohol in Lancaster pay 1.25 percent tax for packaged malt liquor, 2.25 percent on packaged spirits and wine and 3.25 percent on alcoholic beverages sold by the drink in approved restaurants.
In the last year, Lancaster has earned about $117,000 in alcohol tax revenue.
