Hulsey responds to Dodd confrontation, states she was threatened

Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd returned to work last week on Aug. 7 after a two-day suspension following a con-frontation between himself and Commissioner Jennifer Husley following the end of the of August 1 regular session.

The Standard Journal sought comment from Hulsey about the incident last week, and she finally got returned the fol-lowing statement she asked to be printed in full.

As stated in this week's edition hitting newsstands on Tues-day morning, Dodd will be given every opportunity to respond to this statement and any made involving the Polk County Po-lice Department.

Hulsey's statement about the incident reads as follows:

"On Tuesday, August 1, 2017, I was threatened by the Polk County Police Chief, Kenny Dodd. The facts are that after the Commissioner meeting, I was gathering my things and still sitting in my chair. I looked up and saw Chief Dodd coming towards me, and he was agitated and very angry. He was irate, cussing, and put his finger in my face.

He stated, “you are a d*** liar, and I know why you ran for office”. He stated, “you want to do away with my department and I have your number”. The whole time continuing to still point his finger in my face, slinging his body around and con-tinuing to scream at me in full uniform with a gun on his side. To say that I was afraid for my safety and the safety of others is an understatement. Chief Dodd was asked many times to walk away. He was told many times by County Manager, Matt Denton, he was going too far, and he still continued. After 3 attempts to get him to walk away he was finally escorted out of the room and forced to leave while he was still pointing, screaming, and yelling until he was taken out of the room by two county employees.

After he was removed from the room, I left the meeting very shaken and upset. I was dumbfounded at what had just oc-curred.

The next day, Wednesday, August 2,2017, I received an email at 5:23 p.m., that Chief Kenny Dodd was suspended for 2 ½ days (1/2 day on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to return to work on Monday) without pay. Upon receiving the email, I was perplexed that no one had contacted me to get a first account statement of what had happened.

If I had been asked about what occurred, I would have voiced my concerns of his violations of his oath of office, policy, and procedure. His position requires him to be objective, not emotional and personal. But, I wasn’t asked. And without investigating and speaking with witnesses he was suspended without pay. A clear indication of the severity of Chief Dodd’s actions.

Sadly, this is not the first time Chief Dodd has approached me after a meeting, called me a liar, and displayed his anger towards me. A few months ago (approximately March of 2017) after a Commissioner meeting, as I was leaving the podium Chief Dodd approached me and questioned me about moving our impound lot. I told him I wasn’t for that, and he accused me of lying, and stated I was a liar. I asked him to stop, and he continued calling me a liar. At this point, he did not charge me or approach me any further. So, I was able to walk away. I went to County Manager, Matt Denton, to make him aware of this incident.

Fast forward to August 1, 2017, during our Commissioner meeting we did discuss the impound lot again, and I ques-tioned the necessity of this lot and the cost to the tax payers was too much. Directly after this meeting is when he lost con-trol and became enraged.

Chief Dodd’s position is subordinate to this board of elected officials which I am a member of. The disrespect he publicly displayed was not only unnecessary and uncalled for but makes one wonder if he will do this to me what will trigger another enraged outburst to myself or someone else.

I want to make it very clear to the commission, county ad- ministration, and the citizens of Polk County that I was threatened that evening. And, I take that very seriously. But, threats won’t stop me from doing my job and asking questions. I will continue to stand strong and work for the people of this community. There are no hidden agendas with me. I just want the truth and will continue to seek it.

So, it needs to be clear that if anything happens to me or my family the county administration was there. They know how severe it was. And, I was threatened in words and actions. I believe Chief Dodd meant every word he said."