City Officials (Adults) Changing the rules to protect who ?

Did Wills Point change law to hush accusations ?

Some have said city officials at Wills Point prepared for weeks for a confrontation between one of their council members and a man who has accused him of molestation. A city law was changed only a week prior to the confrontation at a Wills Point council meeting, and some said it was in an attempt to halt James Lunsford.
source: http://www.wfaa.com/topstories/
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Background information:

Alleged victim lashes out against former fire chief

By DAN RONAN / WFAA ABC 8
RICHARDSON, Texas - A man who said he was molested by the former Richardson fire chief lashed out at city leaders and told them the former fire chief does not deserve enhanced pension benefits.
Last month, the City of Richardson briefly rehired the controversial former fire chief Mike Jones so that he could receive his pension benefits.
However, James Lunsford, who said Jones abused him when he was a teenager, confronted city officials about giving the former fire chief the benefits.
"Exactly what forum is the right forum?" asked Lunsford after the council told him the council meeting was not the place to air his grievances. "Tell me exactly what is the right forum?"
One year ago, Jones resigned just hours after Lunsford brought forth his allegations.
Jones had also been investigated around the same time after firefighters accused him of repeatedly watching them as they showered.
"Monday through fire, [on] a daily basis," said Billy Whitson, Firefighter Union president. "Every shift had a problem with it."
Jones quit just days before coming eligible for enhanced pension benefits, but in December he was rehired and once again was eligible.
The mayor of Richardson said he was unaware of Jones' past. However, he said he didn't think the allegations should have been brought up at the council meeting.
"Mr. Lunsford, I don't think, I appreciate your issues [but] I really don't want to hear this at this meeting..." said Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel.
The city manager, Bill Keffler, who made the controversial decision to allow Jones back on the payroll, defended his decision.
"He needed an additional credit to complete his pension," Keffler said. "The facts of this issue need to be addressed in a court of law whether it is civil or criminal. The Richardson City Council cannot affect an outcome for Mr. Lunsford."
"I've waited a long time for this and you put me here," Lunsford said. "You are going to hear it. You are going to hear this. You are going to hear every bit of it."
Jones continues to serve as a city councilman in Wills Point.
source: wfaa.com
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Firefighters had complained about former chief
01:08 AM CST on Friday, February 18, 2005
By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV
On Wednesday, a Dallas County grand jury declined to indict former Richardson Fire Chief Mike Jones for allegedly tampering with government records.
But following allegations of molestation first uncovered by News 8, now Jones faces other unrelated accusations by a number of firefighters who say they've complained about the former chief's behavior for years.
24 hours a day, firefighters live and work in very close quarters, resulting in few secrets around a firehouse. But now, numerous firefighters are painting a troubling picture about the former chief's behavior - and the city's response.
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Video: Dan Ronan reports
2/16/05: Former fire chief accused of sex abuse
During the two years Jones was fire chief in Richardson, several firefighters came forward to say Jones regularly sexually harassed them. Among them was firefighter and union president Billy Whitson.
When asked about when the alleged behavior occurred, Whitson said, "Monday through Friday - (on a) daily basis."
Multiple firefighters told News 8 that Jones would stand just outside the showers at the main fire station, and "eyeball" or "leer" at them as they showered.
"Every shift had a problem," Whitson said.
Jones' alleged behavior occurred while he attempted to talk with the men about department business as they stood naked.
One firefighter, who asked not to be identified, also said it was a regular problem.
"At first, it became the station joke, and they were making public address announcements that it was 'shower time,'" he said. "(But) the firefighters got more uncomfortable and changed their routines."
This went on until January 2004, when several firefighters took their allegations to the City of Richardson's human resources department.
"Once it became evident that they were going to be watched, a few just had enough and came forward," the firefighter said.
Eventually, the firefighter's union said 25 men complained, providing dates, times and specific details. Richardson City Manager Bill Keffler said the actual number was 14 firefighters.
On the topic of sexual harassment, the city's personnel manual devotes four pages, specifically discussing "prolonged staring" or "leering" and creating a "hostile" or "offensive" work environment.
The human resources department investigated, determining two months later that Jones' alleged behavior "did not rise to the level of sexual harassment."
Documents obtained by News 8 showed Jones was told to discontinue practices that "created an uncomfortable work environment."
The city manager also told Jones to stay out of the showers and use his private bathroom.
"If it made people uncomfortable, it should be discontinued," Keffler said. "That was asked of the chief, and to the best of my knowledge, that was what the end result was."

Mike Jones
Once the city's investigation concluded, the city manager also had workers install shower curtains in the locker room.
"Frankly, I thought that demonstrated very good faith to insure that, whether it was Chief Jones' concerns, or anybody else's concerns," Keffler said. said.
The firefighters who made the formal complaint, however, said Jones got away with a slap on the wrist.
"We felt the reputation of the city was more protected than the integrity of the complaint," the unidentified firefighter said.
Jones resigned on February 1, less than two months before his 25th anniversary with the city, when he would be eligible for a significant increase in pension benefits.
All this comes as the Van Zandt County District attorney was talking directly with James Lunsford, 31, who claims Jones regularly molested him and possibly other teens in the late 80s and early 90s.
On February 1, an investigator with the Van Zandt DA's office sent Lunsford's statement to Richardson police.
"Tuesday morning I gave permission, and by that afternoon Jones had resigned," Lunsford said.
Richardson city officials insist Jones quit without pressure.
"Chief Jones resigned for personal reasons, and signed a document accordingly," Keffler said. "You'll have to ask him what the personal reasons were."
Mike Jones remains a member of the Wills Point City Council in Van Zandt County. Through his attorney, he declined News 8's requests to be interviewed, and denies any wrongdoing. Jones insists he does not remember ever meeting James Lunsford.
It's now been one year and one month since firefighters filed their human resources complaint. Many said they remain stunned by Mike Jones' alleged behavior and what they claim was the city's "weak" response, and by Jones' recent departure from the Richardson Fire Department.
"We have a rank structure, a chain of command among the fire department - and we are talking about our leader," Whitson said.
Richardson's city manager has appointed an interim fire chief to oversee the department; the search for a permanent replacement is under way.
Van Zandt County officials said they continue to look for other young men who may claim to have been molested by Jones.
source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/dronan/stories/wfaa050217_am_firechief2.ba4a9056.html
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Former fire chief accused of sex abuse
06:39 AM CST on Thursday, February 17, 2005
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV
When Richardson Fire Chief Mike Jones suddenly resigned two weeks ago, he said it was for personal reasons.

Mike Jones
But now, serious allegations are starting to emerge that Jones had engaged in improper and possibly illegal acts, including sexual abuse of a minor.
On Wednesday, a Dallas County grand jury cleared Jones of charges that he had destroyed public records, but News 8 has confirmed Jones is being investigated by the Van Zandt County District Attorney for allegedly molesting at least one teenager back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

One of his alleged victims tells a story of abuse, and how adults may have helped cover it up.

Jones is a respected longtime resident and city council member in the quiet East Texas town of Wills Point. But, the town now finds itself split after a young man named James Lunsford came forward with allegations about Jones.
Lunsford provided investigators with a sworn statement, peppered with graphic allegations of years of sexual abuse by the former Richardson fire chief. Lunsford, who now lives in California, said he was 13 when the abuse began - but said shame and pain has inhabited his heart for years.
"A lot of emotional problems and issues that I've had to deal with today all lead back there," Lunsford said.
James Lunsford said he was molested by former Richardson fire chief Mike Jones for four years, starting when Lunsford was 13.
Those memories lead back to his poor neighborhood, and to a convenience store then operated by Jones, a young firefighter who Lunsford said befriended him.
"He told me he was a fireman," Lunsford said. "I was like, 'oh cool,' and invited me to his house. So we went to his house, and he showed me his uniform and then we just kinda ..."
Lunsford said what happened in that house for the next four years was something he saw only as casual sex. He still believes he wasn't the only teen who Jones had abused.
"There was a kid up the street who saw us together and he asked me if we were having sex," Lunsford said. "I was like, 'yeah,' and he said, 'oh yeah, we've had sex too.'"
Lunsford said he reported his alleged victimization to a number of adults at the time he was assaulted, most of them teachers and one of them a high-ranking school official. While they all showed sympathy, he said none of them did anything to stop the abuse.
News 8 asked Lunsford if anyone indicated to him during that time that Jones was breaking the law when he was allegedly molesting him.
"No, no one ever said molested," Lunsford said. "I don't even think I used the word until a month ago, to tell you the truth."
Jones, who still serves as a Wills Point council member, declined to speak with News 8 following the council's meeting on Monday night. In fact, Jones was able to avoid a News 8 camera by sending a decoy in a hooded jacket out the back door of City Hall. When News 8 photographer William Hicks attempted to ask questions, he was assaulted; meanwhile, Jones made his way out another exit.
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Video: Brett Shipp reports
James Lunsford believes it's that same protection of Jones that motivates former teachers who still correspond with him not to speak out.
One recently wrote him saying, "you must stop and think about what you are doing and the people you will be hurting."
Another wrote, "we stepped in to do what we could to support you; what happened to letting go, letting healing begin and moving on?"
And still another said, "I didn't take it to higher authorities and I should have."
"It's been a burden for all of us, for them not coming forward and saying something to the authorities, (and) me fearing that he's probably continuing to do it and that it's going to screw up more people," Lunsford said.
Jones' attorney Howard Shapiro said his client denies abusing anyone, and that he doesn't even remember James Lunsford. Shapiro also said the Van Zandt County District Attorney has indicated to him that the statute of limitations has expired on Lunsford's claims.
Even if that is the case, several Richardson firefighters said Jones has sexually harassed them in the recent past. Thursday night at 10, News 8's Dan Ronan will have that report.
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/bshipp/stories/wfaa050216_am_richardsonchief.b5cf459c.html