Mayor encounters mutiny in Southport

SOUTHPORT, Ind. (WISH) - Hundreds of angry residents packed into the Southport council meeting Monday night following a massive public outcry over the resignation of most of the Southport Police Department.

To say the council meeting was out of control would be an understatement. Residents and council members battled it out with the mayor over the non-existent police department and the mayor’s spending of city money.

Before the meeting even started, there was the feel of uprising in the air. The crowd joined hands in a group prayer, which the mayor banned when he took office last year. The crowd then loudly sung "Amen." through a scheduled moment of silence prior to the meeting.

Southport Mayor Rob Thoman was heckled and constantly interrupted as he read a statement to kick off the meeting. Thoman said IMPD will continue to serve as the primary police agency for Southport.

"The reality is this city can’t afford its own full-time police force," insisted Thoman.

The majority of the police department, including the chief, resigned Friday after the mayor told the chief to fire all paid officers or risk termination. The department was also at odds with the mayor over his demand for officers to have payment for all traffic citations go to the city of Southport instead of Marion County, which is illegal because Southport doesn’t have a court system to deal with disputes.

After the council refused to approve of anything on the agenda -- from past meeting minutes to new business -- the council president went head-to-head with the mayor, saying the council was taking back control of the council.

Several council members have publically criticized the mayor’s decisions and leadership style.

Southport resident Mary Hearst supported the officers.

"These officers know the residents… know about their lives," said Hearts.

The council president said she intends to put prayer back on the agenda and added she’ll try her best to bring the police department back.

The council also apologized for what they called "misspent money,” a direct reference to the thousands of city dollars the mayor spent on legal bills and lawsuits. They said until now, the mayor wouldn’t let them say no.

For the last 40 minutes of the meeting, residents were allowed to approach the mayor and basically speak their minds. One of the last men to speak asked the mayor if he would step down from his position. The mayor said there was no reason for him to step down.