As arguing between the Tarrant City Council and Mayor Wayman Newton continues, residents are growing concerned about crime.
Chris Patterson said shootings have increased while action from City leadership has decreased. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Patterson said his family was nearly caught in the crosshairs.
"This is actually factual what's going on in Tarrant," Patterson told the council on Monday. "I transported a young man myself the other night with a gunshot wound coming from a Thanksgiving with my family."
"My three-year-old, I had to sling her out of her car to get to safety," he continued. "But we sit up here and bicker about what y'all say; we talking about our lives. My kids could have easily been shot the other night. Easily shot. One was shooting this way and one shooting the other way."
After considering organizing a rally, Patterson said he was told he needed a permit. However, he said his neighbors are getting fed up and things will eventually "erupt."
Patterson, who works for the City of Birmingham, said he wants the city to install ShotSpotter technology. He explained that people in the city want protective measures, including more officers on the street. Patterson claimed he is mostly concerned about kids in Tarrant because of safety concerns in school zones.
"I will sit up there until the day I die to see that City of Tarrant be held accountable for anything that happened to any child here in the city of Tarrant," he told the council. "This is not a game. This has come to be reality. We are in a war right here in Tarrant."
He warned the council needed to get their act together before something tragic happened.
Following the passionate speech, the council began debating whether they had ShotSpotter and whether they could afford it. Police Chief Wendell Major said the city uses another brand of shot detection technology.
"The issue is not detecting gunshots," Major said. "The issue is identifying individuals firing the guns."
Mayor Newton has attempted to terminate Major from his position for months with no support from the council. Newton claims an independent investigation found Major acted in ways unbecoming of his position. However, a council investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Further, the City has two fire chiefs after the original fire chief was fired following an arrest. Chief Jason Rickles' charges were dismissed, and the Jefferson County Personnel Board reinstated his employment.
On Monday, Newton addressed Rickles as the "former fire chief." Rickles said he took offense to that.
"Well, in my eyes, you'll always be the former fire chief because of what you did," Newton told Rickles. "You pulled a gun out on people."
Rickles continued to address council, saying he came to announce the reinstatement of the Tarrant Christmas Toy Drive. Newton offered to help, and Rickles refused.
"We don't need your help," Rickles replied.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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