Simpsonville Fire Chief, Assistant Police Chief Suspended

Patrick Goodwin January 7, 2013 at 07:04 pm

sounds like the council has issues .You can't leave a town unprotected .What's the issue ? From a citizens view ...looks like the council needs help.

annie simpson January 7, 2013 at 07:09 pm

This city is going down hill fast. I can't wait to leave this city. The fire chief & the assist.police chief what next the whole department. God help us all.

Colonel C. E. Rogers January 7, 2013 at 07:25 pm

Many years ago I learned that you never get your Honey from the same place where you get your Money. Nuff said !

Brian O'Neil January 7, 2013 at 08:01 pm

O well. again it appears that the law enforcement and the city government are very incompetent. not just in Simpsonville but all throughout this entire state of South Carolina.

Brian O'Neil January 7, 2013 at 08:03 pm

O well. again it appears that the city government and the police department in Simpsonville are extremely incompetent. not just in Simpsonville but throughout the entire state of South Carolina. as a matter of fact there is not an agency in this entire state doing its job.

Mike Savage January 7, 2013 at 08:20 pm

I find it completely unfair that because the city of Simpsonville is having a difficult time, some people take it as an excuse to bash every agency in the state as not doing its job. I suppose they have worked at every agency and speak from experience. I guess that also speaks volumes about their work habits an reliability in the workplace. All sarcasm aside, yes there are some agency's that need to do a much better job such as the office of Governor. But there are also agency's that are doing an excellent job such as SLED, and other agencies. If you dislike the government of this state so much, then there should be nothing stopping you from moving. Try to get the whole story before casting stones at everyone. Some could also be cast at you I'm sure.

Brian O'Neil January 7, 2013 at 08:29 pm

I sure hate it that you don't like what I say. however at the same time I could care less what you say or think about me. I assume you are what now experienced as being the governor of the state. why don't you worry about yourself and what you say.

Mike Savage January 7, 2013 at 09:17 pm

I do worry about what I say Mr. O'neil and I stand by what I said. Last time I checked the 1st Amendment was still in effect. There was no need to bash all the government agencies. Now, that being said, I have worked around Perry Eichor for many years and found him to be a very competent and professional individual. Now, do people change? I'll be the first to admit they do. I actually agree, to a point, with your statement about Simpsonville city government and the Police Dept. I have worked at both Police Depts on either side of Simpsonville. This was many years ago and things were different then. The Chiefs and Mayors worked together for the good of the cities. Times have changed though. I grew up in that area and hate to see what is happening to it. As far as agreeing with you to a point, I would like to have more information on the underlying problems and what other things that haven't been told before taking a side one way or another. You sound like an intelligent person and I personally think that you would like to have more information. Let's wait until more becomes available. It may be that you and I are bashing each other for no reason. Thank you and have a great day.

Brian O'Neil January 7, 2013 at 09:37 pm

Yes Mr.Savage that last I knew the First Amendment was also ineffect. however you use office is such as the governor's office you also referred to sled. boy oh boy couldn't we go on and on about the scandals in corruption in those offices over the years. it's far time that people stop using political correctness and demand the truth. I also stand by what I said. with all the scandals that I've been informed of in the sled office been informed by the public media. now we're all supposed to assume by what you say as taxpayers supposed to assume that everything is just great now what does office is co
you are correct sir the last time I knew the First Amendment still stood. however you speak as though you work for the governor's office. or possibly you work for sled. we all could go on and on about the corrections and scandal in those 2 offices over the years in this state. it's long ago in time to give up political correctness and get true and real with the taxpayers. I had to look forward to getting more information about what is going on in Simpsonville. however sir if we all get honest we all know it goes far beyond the borders of the Simpsonville city limits.

Linda ward January 7, 2013 at 10:28 pm

Two school boys fighting, how immature is that. The city has problems, every community does, but that not mean they are not going to work through it. I stand behind the police chief in this matter and I think he will prevail. I believe in the mayor and the city counsel will come to some sort of terms and rehire Chief Groundsell after an investigation is completed. I would love to see SLED lead the investigation and get to the bottom of this since it has been going on long before Chief Groundsell was appointed to the position to head the Police Department in the city of Sompsonville.

Mike Savage January 7, 2013 at 11:58 pm

We weren't really fighting Linda. More like a spirited discussion. We were both entitled to our positions. I probably shouldn't have said part of what I said. However I think the whole rally thing and everything else is a moot point. From what I read earlier in the Greenville News, Chief Grounsell has taken the Personal Investigator position with the Solicitors Office in Greenville. I don't even think he wants the job anymore. They have appointed Lt. Steve Moore as the acting Chief of Police. People can say what they want about Steve Moore but I have known that man for over 20 years. I worked with him at another department and a more honest, dedicated Christian man than I have ever met. He put in for the job in the beginning and should have gotten it. Maybe they will take heart and go ahead and promote him permanently. I believe that would help get the Police Department on the right. And Brian O'Neil if you knew him like I do you would agree.

Linda ward January 8, 2013 at 12:51 am

I have heard good things about Steve Moore and I also know Keith Groundsell very well. He is coming in with a fresh outlook for Simpsonville and high hopes of getting the department "up to snuff" so to speak. I had heard about Colleen for sometime now and something should have been done before the decision to appointment Keith as Chief. Her application should not have gone as far as it did and the is the fault of Hawes. He should take full responsibility for this problem and step aside until the matter is resolved. That is my opinion for what it's worth. I'm happy we all see a need for a quick and complete resolution to this matter

Brian O'Neil January 8, 2013 at 03:16 am

Just what is it that makes the fired chief and the acting cheif so great and Colleen so bad? Sounds like a bunch of he said she said to me. typical politics. The problem in my opinion is just what you said Mr.Savage THINGS HAVE CHANGED! and common sense is not too common with the government. the difference between a pessimist and an optimist. is simply the pessimist is more informed.

Mike Savage January 8, 2013 at 03:14 pm

Brian, I have known Steve since he was hired as a police officer at Mauldin PD. I worked with him there for several years before I took a position at another department. Steve worked his way through the ranks to Major there at Mauldin. He was the Major for several years before being called to do missionary work overseas. I have kept in touch with him over the years and after returning home still felt the need to serve his community. He joined Simpsonville PD and has risen through the ranks again. He is more than qualified, he is respected. I don't know Keith Grounsell so you would have to ask Linda about him since she knows him. It's sad to see the City deteriorate to the level it has. Like you said Brian, it seems like a "he said, she said" situation right now. I would love to know what information the City council used to justify the firing of the Chief. I've got an idea about the Ass't Fire Chief and the woman. Would like to know about the council and Chief though. Either way there's going to be some families ruined after this is all over. That's sad too.

Mike Savage January 8, 2013 at 04:33 pm

Things have changed Brian. I grew up on Log Shoals Rd outside Mauldin and graduated from the old Hillcrest High School. It was a simple time then as it was in the late 70's when I started my Law Enforcement career at Ft. Inn PD. J.E. "Fat" Land was Chief in Fountain Inn and right off hand I don't remember the Chief's name in S'ville. I just remember that both were good men who cared about their community. The Mayors were good men too. Men who believed in letting their Chief do the work they were hired to do without looking over their shoulder trying to micromanagement something they knew nothing about. Yep, things have surely changed from those days.

Nick Smith January 10, 2013 at 09:14 pm

Mike, your comments are at least fair and mostly unbiased. However, the last statment, "I've got an idea about the Ass't Fire Chief and the woman..." is presumptuous. Also, what do you mean by families are going to be ruined over this? You've already stated that Grounsell went to work somewhere. The Asst. Chief retired. Where's the ruin?

Laura Johnson January 12, 2013 at 05:55 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.

Stan Ward January 12, 2013 at 01:00 pm

This just brings to a head how bad a chief Mr. Reese was.He let this crap go on for years and they lost a bunch of good dedicated officers.He fostered the atmosphere in which this illicit affair went on and it was a well known fact of the affair throughout the city.The former mayor was right in there with his gutter tactics and his affair with a city council person.Russ Hawes was also aware of what was going on.Mr. Hawes and the mayor and the five sorry male members of the council should rersign after reinstating the fired chief and let us get our city back to normal with these low ethic people cleansed from the ranks.
Stan Ward