WSS Council Member Ryan Lockhart releases statement regarding Timothy Loehmann

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS W.Va. (WVDN) – Council member Ryan Lockhart has released a statement to apologize to the family of Tamir Rice, the citizens of White Sulphur Springs, and the public in general, regarding the hiring and subsequent resignation of Policeman Timothy Loehmann. He decided it was only proper to explain his take on the entire unfortunate situation.

So many concerned residents blasted the council members of White Sulphur Springs and the police department on social media, over the decision to hire Loehmann in the first place.

As Lockhart mentions in his press release, the decisions to hire within the city are left to the mayor and the chief of police. Both Mayor Kathy Glover and Scott Tubert, police chief are still unavailable for comment.

We offer a great debt of gratitude to Ryan Lockhart, for this heartfelt response. Lockhart is a lifelong resident of White Sulphur Springs and a diehard supporter of the town. Here is what Lockhart had to say in his statement on July 1.

Statement by Council Person Ryan Lockhart:

“First, I would like to address the citizen’s questions regarding the decisions surrounding the staffing. This city council voted at our first meeting to give personnel matters exclusively to the mayor, as well as the department heads of each specific department. The members of the council put faith in the department heads as well as the Chief of Police to solicit and properly examine each candidate that applies for employment accordingly and much like with any operation, we expect the person that responsibility was bestowed upon to effectively manage and employ quality candidates that they feel will enhance the growth and development of our city.

“The City of White Sulphur Springs is blessed with a magnificent and astounding office staff, as well as hardworking and truly determined maintenance department employees, our water and sewer department employees are exemplary and dedicated to our city as they are called out after hours and never fail to do an excellent job for White Sulphur Springs. The city council members are not privy to employment decisions, regarding the dismissal of employees or the acquisition of new hires, or any consequential human-resource-related incidents.

“I have been contacted by numerous media resources, as well as local citizens, neighbors, and lifelong friends at the concern they have for the safety of our community regarding the mass media that White Sulphur Springs has received, it’s the desire of those people who have clearly communicated with me that we remedy this situation efficiently and put proper checks and balances in place to ensure that something of this magnitude never occurs again.

“I was informed that as of 2 p.m. this afternoon, July 1, 2024, the officer in question has resigned from his position with the City of White Sulphur Springs.

“I was not aware of this hiring decision until he had been employed and working for the city for some time before it was disclosed to me along with the details about the officer’s past and the circumstances surrounding his history.

“This is a small resort community nestled in Appalachia, we’ve never been faced with such a controversial occurrence and unfortunately did not have the proper operating procedures in place to verify something like this couldn’t happen, we’ve certainly learned from it, and I want to make sure in the future that policies are implemented within our city to verify something like this can never happen again.

“White Sulphur Springs is a community full of beautiful, resilient, and humble people who love each other very much, we are in no way malicious or foolish folks, we are blessed with a community full of benevolent and Godly people who strive to take care of their neighbor and those in need as evidenced by the devastation we experienced during the 2016 flood and the wonderous way everyone put someone else’s needs before their own. So, I ask the public, and those reading and viewing media from afar to not judge an entire community or a group of elected officials on an irrational and unfortunate decision made by one person, the citizens of this town only deserve the best and I am very sorry that our municipality failed to deliver on this.

“Additionally, and most profoundly, I would like to extend my sympathies and most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of Tamir Rice. I would like to apologize to them for the unfortunate series of events that resulted in them reliving the tragic incident these last few days. Unfortunately, a word does not exist that could ever adequately describe the sorrow I feel for all those who knew Tamir as they continue to be tormented by this horrendous and devasting circumstance regarding the loss of a young life. I am so deeply sorry in every way this has occurred.”

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