Simpsonville City Employees Suspended Over Affair, Fired Police Chief Alleges

D. Dantzler January 9, 2013 at 02:45 pm

That sucks! Simpsonville council needs to take a good long look at what they are suppose to be doing, instead of what they keep doing. Let the police chief do his job!!! They should have never fired him for trying to follow policy and procedure. Good for him for standing up for what was suppose to happen and how ridiculous for two supposed adults for having an affair!!! If anything, Grounsell could sue the city for this mess!!! The council should be ashamed of themselves!

D Bruner January 10, 2013 at 12:46 am

Election time is coming in the future. Kickem out, vote em out, Small Town politics in Simpsonville needs to go. They aren't big wheels people, they're just a turn within the turn. Put them out of office if the council isn't doing it's job, replace them!

James Smith January 10, 2013 at 06:42 pm

I do not believe it is an affair if both parties are single.. Do your home work.. I personally know them both and they are good people..

Nick Smith January 10, 2013 at 08:37 pm

Hello Dantzler...The FORMER chief (Grounsell) couldn't do his job when he was there! Look at what a mess he created out of a department that received MANY awards before he showed up and destroyed it.

Nick Smith January 10, 2013 at 08:41 pm

The council is doing their job! That's why they fired Grounsell. Too bad he's got people in such an uproar that they can't see the truth. Look past that greasy head of his into his character & you'll see how bad it is. Someone who is truely an ethical person doesn't have to go around telling that to everyone. As ethical person is recognized through actions. If you have to constantly tell people you're ethical because your actions don't show it...well, you're probably NOT ethical at all.

Jane Doe January 11, 2013 at 03:15 am

@ James Smith - If you are as intellegent as you seem to think you are, then you will know that the definition of a love affair is a romantic or sexual relationship, esp a temporary one, between two people. There is nothing in the dictionary that says that the people are married. Soooooo before you open your trap you should know what you are talking about.

Hal Millard (Editor) January 11, 2013 at 04:41 am

I think Jane Doe has it right on the definition of "affair." Regardless, according to Grounsell's comments to me, one or both were supposedly married when the alleged relationship began, so that would seem to fit your definition of "affair" if it's indeed true. So far, the media has only been able to get one side of the story despite its best efforts. Neither Williams or O'Neil have commented to the media, or disputed the claim, despite given the opportunity to do so. But, according to my sources, the problem isn't so much the alleged "affair" (they're both consenting adults, and can do as they please); it's their alleged failure to properly disclose the relationship per city policy, and Grounsell's supposedly thwarted efforts to discipline O'Neil over the matter. In the meantime, I and every other media member around here would gladly listen to Williams and O'Neil give their side and publish it if they should ever choose to set the record straight — and we thoroughly encourage them to contact us. Same goes for City Council and Mayor Eichor, and especially City Administrator Russ Hawes.

Laura Johnson January 12, 2013 at 05:57 am

Hey guys and girls! I just confirmed that “NICK SMITH” is Colleen Oneil the recently terminated and disgruntled Assistant Chief of Police from Simpsonville. Keep that in mind whenever you read her post. Oh yea, I am a friend of a close friend of Colleen Oneil’s best friend at the Simpsonville PD, Karen Henderson who is “JAMES SMITH.” Karen Henderson (aka James Smith) is the current School Resource Officer from Hillcrest Middle School. Just thought everyone should know this, so take what Colleen Oneil (aka Nick Smith) and Karen Henderson (aka James Smith) says with a grain of salt.

Golden Strip Citizen January 12, 2013 at 07:51 am

Council may be trying to appear to be doing there job. Last Tuesday one particular member made it very clear to the entire room, and cameras "he didn't care what the people wanted and we could vote him out of office" that is the same attitude and action that is given from about 6 others including the administrator. That is not "doing their job" there job is serving the people that voted them into office. You also speak of character, look deep and you will see character and ethical actions in everything that is done by Chief Grounsell. It is not the easy thing to do, standing up for what you believe in always, but he knew it was what was best for Simpsonville and the officers of the PD. Don't you think it would have been easier to just have gone with the flow and let things continue as normal? I would def say it would but he refused to over look rules, policy, or law. And to the comment about destroying the police department and what a mess Grounsell made, I remind you that to majority of officers stood on there own to write a letter stating they were willing to walk off the job that the city needed to let Grounsell do his job. It was broke way before he got there and the support proves that.

Golden Strip Citizen January 12, 2013 at 07:52 am

In addition to that if i recall morale after Grounsell started was at the highest in years, and the police and family's even participated in the Christmas parade and weren't afraid. Clearly his actions show it wants what is best for the city unlike what is being demonstrated by the administrator and 5 of your elected officials.

Patrick Powell January 12, 2013 at 08:54 am

Do you know Keith Grounsell personally? If not then how can you speak to his morals or ethics? He's doing what any of us that feel that we have been wronged would do. He's only doing it on a much bigger stage and standing up for what he believes in to more than just his friends and family! I admire what he's doing and having known him personally since we were in high school I know him to be a man full of ethics and morals that are far exceeding those of most or any person that I have met in life!

Nana January 12, 2013 at 03:20 pm

Thank you for the info, Laura.

Jane Doe January 12, 2013 at 03:51 pm

That explains the "support" for O'Neil. When I responded to another posting on this site, "James" aka as Karen Henderson told me not to post if I wouldn't use my real name. What a hypocrite! At least EVEYONE on this site knows that I am posting anonymously because of the name that I am using. I am not trying to decieve anyone into thinking I'm someone I'm not. Yes I choose to post anonymously because of fear of retaliation from the good ol boys. If you, Colleen, really feel you are misunderstood because of your "affair" or other immoral things you have done while employed with the city, use your real name. And you want to talk about other peoples ethics. Geeez.

James Smith January 21, 2013 at 03:23 pm

Jane Doe, you are being foolish for blindly buying into what people like Laura Johnson are saying they have verified or confirmed. She again, is wrong. It would be better if people like yourself would either look for the truth or wait until its made publicly available. Its coming.... Hopefully then the light will be turned on for a lot of you people who are allowing yourselfs to be mislead. The lying people are not the ones who are being crucified for it. Ever heard the phrase those that scream the loudest are the guilty ones? Grounsell will be exposed for what he is. Then maybe people like yourself will begin to see what's really going on. Sad that everyone is so easily mislead. That's what the grounsells are banking on.

Ben Theronbach January 23, 2013 at 09:42 am

My, my,my. The same council that sat on its hands and neither said or did anything when the former mayor and councilperson were destroying two families and embarrassing every citizen in the city, suddenly have become moral zealots! Where was your zeal before you started the ruination of the lives of city employees??!! Any person with half a mind could see that the immoral behavior of two elected officials opened the gate for the latest allegations. It is sickening, and grossly unfair to the citizens of Simpsonville!