Letter to the Editor: Shock, sadness and outrage over town council decision
To say that we were shocked, saddened, and outraged by the Ferdinand Town Council and Town Manager’s treatment of former Police Chief Ted Bieker is probably the understatement of the year.
We have been impressed with Chief Bieker’s integrity, professionalism and approachability. It was evident to us that he was aware that his job was that of a public servant. Chief Bieker acted on everyone’s behalf to keep this town safe. Indeed, his knowledge and high standards are rarely found in someone in his position, and especially in a small town such as Ferdinand.
Far too many people who are in local, state and federal governmental positions these days act as if the opposite were true – that we are here to serve them. Chief Bieker knew that his job was to serve us all and that is what he did. He was chosen as chief because of his qualifications. He kept the position of chief because of those same qualifications. He was asked to resign without a single strike against his record. We ask the same question Patty Bieker kept asking in her letter to the editor in the Ferdinand News on June 5, “Why”?
Our founding fathers never intended for individuals to make a career out of politics, but instead to serve the public for a limited amount of time and then return to their farms or businesses. Unfortunately, these days, far too many people make careers out of their “public service” by running for office ad nauseum. So why are these same three people still Ferdinand’s Town Council members?
Here is where you, the residents of this fine little community, can make a difference. If you are tired of the same old dirty politics – if you are tired of seeing good people like Ted Bieker being kicked to the curb for no good reason – then for goodness’ sake, get three more like-minded individuals to run against these kings and queens and take your town back!
A town of 2,500 residents does not need a town manager. Does Jasper have a town manager? For that matter, does Evansville have a town manager? The answer to both questions is NO. We do not know Marc Stecyzk; nor do we have any ax to grind against him, other than his shameful treatment of our former Police Chief. This gentleman needs to resign – or else, we need to elect three new council members who will fire this man. This town does not need an unelected town manager who is not held accountable to the town residents nor answers to us. Instead, the council members need to do their jobs which they were elected to do. And that does not mean telling a well-liked and respected public servant to fabricate an excuse for resigning.
Lord Acton said it best: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Sincerely, Ron and Debbie Ramirez Ferdinand, IN
Well said, still not sure why we need to pay for a town manager or more than 3 cops for a town our size, but that is beside the point while I didn’t always agree with Bieker he was fair and did a respectable job in what could not have been an easy position at times. Thanks for your service Ted, (would have liked you better without the speeding tickets, but they were deserved at any rate)
Ted did his job with integrity and was a perfect role model of what police officers should do protect and serve their community not politics. The sad truth of the matter though is once you quit playing by their rules they turn on you like so. I remember when this country was made of people like this. The sad part now it isn’t and it is only getting worse because those who care the most about people are the ones who get shunned. I applaud police chief bieker for being the public servant he was for the people and not the politician they tried to make him out to be. The city has turned against one of its finest. Disappointed is an understatement
Being a good “cop” that is nice and friendly to everyone doesn’t make you a chief that is charged with managing the department. It’s obvious our former chief had not administrative skills at all. The shame from the Town Council was in promoting an unqualifed chief to begin with.
It’s clearly apparent that our former chief was “talked to” several times about his poor performance and no effort was ever shown to improve. 5+ years of “talking to” is too more than generous.
Now maybe Ferdinand can continue to move ahead with a great Town Manager and Town Council; both of which are not needed in Jasper or Evansville — because they have Mayors.
This town will never be “kind to outsiders” as those of us are called that were born here. Someday that will be the downfall of this community.
Another Ferdinand Resident
1. We don’t need a town manager – our money could be better spent
2. We need a 5-member town council – who are all willing to do their job and represent the town
3. And, we need all new people in office!
Felt the need to respond to the letter writers in today’s edition. First off, the reason Jasper or Evansville do not have Town Managers is because they have an elected Mayor, whose full time job is to run the town’s business. As Ferdinand continues to grow and expand, a Town Manager is a more and more vital position to have.
Before Mr. Stecyzk was hired, the highest ranking full-time city employee was Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise. She did a great job, but was handling more and more responsibilities not in her job description, which made it tougher for her to get her regular work accomplished.
As to former Chief Ted Bieker, in all of the discussions and letters and comments, I have not seen or heard one legitimate complaint with the job he has done as an actual peace officer. All issues have been with the managerial responsibilities of the position.
To the best of my recollection, the Town Council (consisting of 2 current members) 9 years ago was hailed for appointing Bieker to the Chief’s position, bringing much needed stability and calm to a department that was being shredded, both internally and by the community at large. Let’s thank the Chief for the job he did the past 9 years and give full support to the new Chief, whoever they may be or where they come from.
All of this bickering and caterwauling only makes the town of Ferdinand look small and petty- an image that is hard to erase. Just last night at the council meeting, the TV reporter mispronounced Bieker’s name, calling him Becker!! Think back just a decade or so ago when Ferdinand was considered a huge speed trap, ticket giving community- not really moving forward or growing. That has changed immeasurably for the better- let us not regress, but continue to grow and thrive!!
So, “concerned for town image,” you feel that an opinion opposing your own is “bickering” and “caterwauling”? Well, I say the Town Council’s actions make Ferdinand look “small” and “petty,” and I say BRAVO to the letter writers and THANK YOU to Ted Bieker!
I have lived here forever as my parents grandparents and so on. There are many of us out here who love it here and we wouldn’t live anywhere else. It dismays me how “outsiders” say we are small minded and petty. All I can say is don’t live here…. I moved away to a large city and found it cold, violent, dirty. I have lived with the small minded stuff….truly an exaggeration. We have grown in many ways with the YMCA library and upgrade in telecommunications. I am excited seeing the development in the southern edge of town and all the new possibilities to come in the future. We need a Town Manager because there was too much nepotism and favoritism within our city government. Running a town is a complicated business….those crying fowl have probably never ever attended a town board meeting. It is a thankless job and you have critics everywhere gossiping what you are doing wrong instead to saying what is being done right. Unless you want the job I would suggest you shut the hell up.
Wow, so it sounds like you feel “outsiders” are not wanted. Guess
according to your logic, the town had better change its motto from
“Visit us for a day, Join us for a lifetime” to “Visit and stay…but if
you’re not a native of this town and not German, then KEEP OUT.”
If this is how you really feel, then I feel sorry for you.
And don’t tell people to shut up if you disagree with them. They have a right to their opinion, just as you do.
Dear “GermanProud” – It is good that the majority of the people in Ferdinand are good and tolerant people – I would not be living here it they weren’t. If they were all like you, it would be a ghost town, I am writing to ask you to know what you are talking about before you make assumptions. Ron and Debbie (Recker) Ramirez are good friends of mine. Debbie was also born and raised here as were her parents and grandparents – all the way back to Germany. She moved back to Ferdinand, after many years away, because it is such a wonderful town to live in. She and Ron believe as I do, that people should be treated fairly and with respect.
p.s. I know that they have attended some town board meetings – another wrong assumption on your part.
Wow, I grew up here. I graduated from Forest Park and I live in Ferdinand. I’m an “insider” and I think you are all small minded and petty. This is ridiculous “good ole boy” politics and in the real world they would never be tolerated. Ferdinand needs to grow up.
Why don’t they make the town manager position a position that is voted on by the people in the next election? The people can get who they want instead of who the board says they get!
I find it very upsetting that the town council president would suggest to Chief Bieker that he could LIE to the citizens of Ferdinand as to why he is stepping down and also give him examples such as health issues or family problems as a reason to LIE. Shame on you Mr. Sicard. Mr. sicard admitted that he did suggest this to Chief . I am proud of Chief Bieker for Not taking Mr Sicard’s suggestion to LIE. Who else has Mr. Sicard asked to lie?
This is one little town that does not welcome anyone that was born elsewhere. I am glad to see a change in the (good ol’boy local police). It is VERY well known in the area that if your not a life long native of this narrow minded community you will be a target for the local police.
I can’t believe that “our” town council would allow the president of the council to keep his position when he has admitted that he suggested and would support Chief Bieker if he would LIE to the citizens of Ferdinand about stepping down. Seriously? Really? Since when is this acceptable? What other LIES have been told by the council that we citizens haven’t found out about? My trust in the board has been lost. How sad is that?