During the October 27th Tallahassee City Commission meeting, Police Chief Lawrence Revell addressed appearance at a Billy Graham Evangelical Association religious retreat for law enforcement executives.
During the last two city commission meetings, there has been a public outcry for the city to take action against Chief Revell for speaking to other heads of departments during the retreat. Some speakers suggested Chief Revell should be fired.
The LGBTQ+ community has voiced great concern due to the views of Billy Graham organization. At the same time, others complained that the chief’s appearance during the event wearing TPD clothing violates the separation of church and state.
Commissioner Jack Porter suggested having Chief Revell address the commissioners and the public about his interactions and attendance at the retreat. Porter said she had received many concerned emails, and she too has worries regarding some of the comments made during his speech.
“I do not feel resolved with the issue, and I agree that everywhere we go, we do not stop being commissioners,” Porter said.
“I will proudly stand on my record not only as Chief of Police but on 30 years with the police department,” Revell said. He continued addressing the concerns regarding discrimination, mainly made by the LGBTQ+ community.
Revell stated that the way he treats the officers under him and how he serves the Tallahassee community will never include discrimination. Revell also noted that TPD has a long history of hiring and promoting members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow queried whether any policies were made during the event that would impact the department, to which Revell responded quickly, “absolutely not.”
Matlow also questioned City Manager Reese Goad about what policies are in place regarding speaking engagements. Though it was a law enforcement retreat, it appears as if Revell was representing Tallahassee, as he was wearing a TPD polo at the event, speaking as a police chief.
According to Goad, there are policies in place. Revell had requested the time off and cleared the event with the Deputy City Manager, Cynthia Barber, the chief’s direct supervisor. Furthermore, it was established in advance that Revell would be paid for his appearance, and according to legal counsel, this was acceptable.
Commissioner Dianne Willaims-Cox disagreed with the sentiment that one is “never off duty” and said that even public servants have personal lives. “We did not sell our souls and ourselves to these positions,” she said. “We are public servants. And even public servants need some time off. We do have lives outside of this.”
He is the Chief…. He is ALWAYS on Duty.
Curious: The same Chief, at the reported urging of the same commissioner now saying you can actually have a life and presumably free speech while off duty, suspended and demoted a police sergeant who referred to a BLM group who attacked a driver caught in their demonstration as "thugs" inside a friend only chat string.
That Sergeant is still fighting the discipline and has been for more than a year. Yet here, when the elite feet are being held to fire, they declare autonomy.
So they want to fire the Police Chief because he's a Christian and he spoke at a Billy Graham Retreat for Law Enforcement Officers? I think everyone has lost their minds.
The same people that want Chief Revell fired were perfectly Ok with a married Scott Maddox flying off to Vegas on a private jet to stay at the Hustler club and cavort with a midget while conducting city business! That's OK... But Chief Revell had the temerity to wear a Polo shirt with the TPD logo on it at a Billy Graham retreat. The gall of that man! He's gotta go!
Someone once said; a sane man in an insane world must appear insane... y'all probly think I'm a dang lunatic.
I sure hope Matlow and/or Porter aren't caught making speeches at one of their Marxists DemoKKKrat Club meetings... or a Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Group gathering of Gender Dysphoria folks.
Lol you guys are crazy to embrace William-Cox. Have you not seen the rampant gov't pork given away to her politically connected church?
During the FBI trial it was said on tape if you want to get ahead you "put $5,000 in the collection tray on Sunday for RB Holmes." No doubt that is occurring still today and in 2022
The extreme agenda supported by Revell was on Amelia Island, at the Ritz Carlton with the insider politicians.
Why is the Chief of Police going out of town on all these paid junkets to push an agenda when we have a bad violent crime problem?
Especially at the Chamber retreat where we know federal crimes and criminal schemes involving Maddox and big developers began. It's a crime scene and Revell was riding shotgun.
"Revell had requested the time off and cleared the event with the Deputy City Manager, Cynthia Barber, the chief’s direct supervisor. Furthermore, it was established in advance that Revell would be paid for his appearance, and according to legal counsel, this was acceptable." ............… This is a "Mic Drop" Statement if there ever was one.
And when Commissioner Dianne Willaims-Cox disagreed with the sentiment that one is “never off duty” and said that even public servants have personal lives. That is HER Mic Drop moment because she is totally right.
If I win County Commissioner in 2022, I will STILL be a "Car Guy" and be seen at the Saturday Car Shows and Cruise In's. That's who I am and always will be. If you want to stop by and chat with me, please do so. You can even go to my web site at www.Hawkins2022.com and send me an Email if you want.
We see who is pushing the “behind the scenes” agenda to oust the Police Chief. Local commie swine Matlow and Porter.
@ Jim... I believe the technical term is "Dain Bramage"
You, Barb, Hope Charles, et al... all have this nailed dead-nuts-on
These people have lost their minds.
The Chief is perfectly within his rights as a Citizen to attend this event and he is also within his rights to be a Christian. The City Police, fire fighters, EMTs, Sheriff's Department et al are an outstanding group of public servants and deserve our support.
It is very unfortunate that Matlow and Porter are such extremist who strive to divide our community. They need to focus on their sworn duties as commissioners and quit being political hacks.
It sounds like the commission is pursuing religious persecution against the chief.
Matlow and Porter have shown their true colors recently and I’m very disappointed. We will remember when it is time to vote again.
Thank you to Diane Williams-Cox for standing with Chief Revell.
UGH!!! I'm so fed up with this "woke" city commission! And I can't take people being so butthurt about other opinions or actions. The alphabet soup mafia behave more like children than adults. Oh, you hurt my feelings and I'm telling mommy or is it birthing person. What a joke! Put on your "Big Boy" pants and learn to deal with life like a real adult.
This is discrimination against Christians.
Just when you thought they might have a redeeming quality, Matlow and Porter prove themselves to be the godless hacks we all assumed them to be in the first place. If this is what they think is wrong with Tallahassee, they have to go.
Matlow and Porter need to tell the l b g alphabet group to stand down! They need to do their job and not go down rabbit trails listening to political wackos. That the chief has a right to his beliefs and his personal life and if they don't like it they can go take a flying leap off the cliff with the rest of the Democrats
I believe the TPD Chief should ask FDLE to investigate Porter for her shenanigans regarding the voter ID non-bid nonsense that is really a front to register illegal immigrants tied into election fraud and misusing her position and misusing tax dollars for a felonious enterprise.
When the governor implements the election fraud division... maybe this should be their first case.
Lets award the young Matlow and the young Porter the K.I.S.S award:
Thats Kids In Satan's Service.
Get the behind me Matlow and Porter.