City council hears from its detractors

HOUSTON — The city council got an earful Thursday night from angry animal rights activists and supporters of Sgt. Charlie Seidl.

Seidl shot eight animals at the Houston Animal Shelter last week. He said he was ordered to do so by Mayor Roger Purcell. The mayor denies ever giving such an order.

The council held a personnel evaluation Monday night and voted 4-3 to keep Seidl on the police force. Yet, Seidl remains on paid suspension.

Before the meeting, Purcell said Seidl will remain on suspension pending a review by the city attorney on some information. Purcell declined to be any more specific because it is a personnel matter.

“The mayor said I had a habit of leaking information to the media,” Seidl said, “and so a legal review is being conducted to determine what information I could and could not be privy to.”

Seidl said he has had no indication from the other council members about attempts to lift the suspension. Asked if there is ever a point at which he would start packing his bags and look for another job, Seidl responded, “I want to stick it out.”

Seidl said the suspension feels more like retribution. A video tape was posted on YouTube allegedly showing the mayor driving a police vehicle to Fairbanks to deliver a grant application and using the emergency lights.

Seidl found the tape in the police vehicle and turned it over to Councilwoman Vergie Thompson. Thompson said she posted the video on-line after the district attorney didn’t take action.

Seidl certainly had the support of many of the speakers during Thursday’s public comment period.

Long-time resident and former Houston employee Elsie O’Bryan equated Seidl’s continued suspension to a veto of Monday night’s vote at the performance evaluation. As a second class city, the mayor of Houston cannot overturn a council vote.

“The people spoke, the council spoke, and you, Roger, don’t have veto powers,” O’Bryan said.

Past city council candidate Josh Hanford asked the city council if they would field any of his questions. When a councilman responded the public comment period is not a time for questions and answers, Hanford turned the microphone around and stood to address the audience.

“I am disgusted and appalled at the behavior of our mayor as to not have immediately reinstated (Seidl) — gun, badge and respect,” Hanford said.

Lorita Shumway said she assumed Seidl would be back at work on Tuesday after the vote on Monday. One of the complaints raised at the performance evaluation was that Seidl wasn’t doing his job, but now he can’t do his job, Shumway said.

Even Councilwoman Thompson, in her closing remarks, said there are questions that need answering. She said the council is the ultimate authority and, thus, should know the specific reasons Seidl is not back on duty.

But the popular support of Seidl almost paled in comparison to outrage shown over the eight animals shot dead at the shelter.

Cindy Liggett runs a cat rescue in Anchorage. She said she got a call from the shelter volunteer on the day the euthanasias occurred. She said she immediately found homes for the cats and even one of the dogs, but by the time she called back, all the animals had been shot.

Terry Huff, a board member with Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, said one of the groups members rescued four dogs on Dec. 29, one of which gave birth to puppies on Jan. 1. The other dogs there were either too old or too aggressive to be fostered through their group, but Huff said they could have worked something out if they were given notice.

Teresa Beck, a veterinarian in Palmer, said she had written letters in the past to the city about the state of the Houston Animal Shelter. The animals she had seen come from there had received no medical care and rescue groups were often called to adopt pregnant animals. The animals were not being spayed or neutered, meaning the city was gaining nothing by housing them there.

Many of those who got up to speak offered their volunteer services to the Houston Animal Shelter, whenever it comes back online.

“I am here to offer you these two able hands, and I can promise you four more,” said Windsor Demore of Clear Creek Cat Rescue. “Whatever you need, we are here to help you.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.