Photo by Google Maps Streetview
On September 1st, 2016 at approximately 2:15 p.m. Alexander Police Officers arrested Robert “Bob” McKeon. McKeon manages the Woodland Hills Water Department which serves the Alexander community. McKeon was taken into custody at his place of business 15250 Highway 111 without incident.
McKeon’s arrest was due to a specific complaint from a resident. The resident reported to APD Officers on several encounters with McKeon that happened at her home, outside City Hall, and at the Dollar General Store.
She filed a police report which prompted Detective T. J. Dunn to open an investigation into the matter. Detective Dunn obtained an Arrest Warrant for McKeon.
On August 31st, 2016, McKeon was involved with multiple disturbances involving frustrated citizens as well as the Alexander Police Officers who responded to citizens’ complaints about his actions.
It was apparent that McKeon’s behavior while attempting to enforce what he perceived to be code violations had caused an unreasonable level of fear and apprehension.
The Alexander Police Department Asst. Chief of Police Richard Harper – per Chief of Police Robert Burnett – released the following statement in regards to the incident and code violations:
There are many people in our community who have code violations on their property. Many of these residents live well below the poverty line and have limited means to remedy their situation. Some residents do not speak or read English and rely on friends or relatives to help them communicate. The Alexander Police Department works with all residents in an effort to help them get in compliance, with the goal of solving the problem, not putting people out of their homes.
When a resident files a code violation complaint about another resident, the complaint is followed up on by a Code Enforcement Officer. First, the officer will visit the subject of the complaint. On this initial visit the resident is advised of the ordinances of which they are in violation. The officer will advise the resident that they will return in 10 days to assess their progress. After the 10 days the Code Enforcement Officer returns to check the resident’s progress. If it appears that the resident has not made progress, he will post on the property a Warning Notices giving the resident 30 days to get in compliance. If after this 30-day period, there has been little to no progress, the code enforcement officer issues a citation. The citation typically has a court date set for 30 days from the date of the citation. This gives the resident an additional 30 days to get in compliance. In some cases officers observe a need for either Adult Protective Human Services or Child Protective Human Services reporting and inspection. In those cases reports are made through the proper channels.
There is no magic wand that can be waved to overnight fix serious code violations that have developed over several years. People who barely have enough to survive cannot immediately remedy their situation. It has been our experience that residents given time and whose rights to respect and to feel secure in their homes respond well to code enforcement. Residents who are berated, belittled, disrespected and denied public services do not respond well, and code violations persist. Current Alexander city ordinance supports a process which will only be enforced with empathy, respect and by proper authority.