TEAM TRIBUNE The Newsletter for City of Greer Employees Spending a few minutes on the City of Greer Police Department s Firearms Training Simulator may be the best way to understand split-second decisions officers encounter. WYFF-TV s Allyson Powell learned that first-hand when she faced the interactive video screen and played the role of an officer backing up her partner at a traffic stop. Once the driver was recognized as having an outstanding warrant, he willfully stepped outside his vehicle and was being handcuffed when the driver s young daughter jumped out of the truck with a shotgun. Spring 2017 Partnership earns GPD City Achievement Award Continued on Page 2 Thank you and congratulations to our retirees Last week was both rare and bittersweet for Team Greer as three of our team members retired. It s always sad to say goodbye to friends, colleagues, and valuable contributors to the City. It s also a time to celebrate their achievements and their well-deserved retirements. Dan Reynolds chose to end his storied career, which included service as a captain in the U.S. Army and more than four decades in law enforcement, at the City of Greer. As our police chief for the past 12 years, he brought a wealth of knowledge to the position. His concentration on education and professional development of his staff helped us find our new leaders within Team Greer. From the Inside City Administrator Hazel Poston, in many ways, has anchored our Building and Development Standards Department for the past 11 years. Known simply as Miss Hazel to many, she has treated customers and colleagues alike with a genuine grace and friendliness. Bruce Viehmann spent the past 11 years, most recently as grounds superintendent, keeping the City s Parks and Recreation facilities looking immaculate. Although Bruce requested a quiet segue into retirement, I felt it appropriate to acknowledge him in this newsletter. Thank you to these three and congratulations on reaching a major life milestone We wish you ALL the best!
Continued from Page 1 You re not taking my Daddy to jail, she shouted before leveling the barrel at the officer and pulling the trigger. The roar from that blast had barely subsided when the girl turned and fired a second blast at Powell. As the screen froze and the lights rose in the room, Powell stood with her mouth agape considering just one of the split-second decisions faced daily by law enforcement. The only thing I could think of is I can t shoot that little girl. If it had been real, I don t truly know what I would have done, especially when protecting someone else. But there was no way I could allow myself to shoot at that child, Powell said. The simulation s tally? Two dead police officers and a family that would soon be broken apart. I ve learned that there is a reason I am behind the camera and not in a first responder s uniform, Powell confessed after filing more than two dozen stories involving the City of Greer s Police and Fire Departments for WYFF s 4 Your Safety series. Only certain people are wired to do those jobs, and I am not. I have also learned, police officers, like us, often have a challenge between protocol and emotion and it is all hinging on the situation. That challenge has been very public since the 2014 fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Amid Black Lives Matter protests, police departments across the country have come under scrutiny for their policies. As a result, patrol officers have become the target of execution style murders. Journalists find themselves in the middle as they attempt to cover both sides objectively. Powell said the series provided a good opportunity to bridge that gap while providing valuable information to the public. No matter how often we do safety stories, people always need a reminder. It may seem like common knowledge to us, but with our viewers, some may be hearing it for the first time, she We approached it with the idea that we could write one seatbelt ticket or target 40,000 people through the 4 Your Safety campaign. said. Also, in this age, it was a good opportunity to show a positive relationship between the media and first responders. That relationship can often be interpreted as strained. Sgt. Randle Ballenger contacted WYFF last spring about a series covering the 100 Deadly Days of Summer the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when students are on break, families plan vacations and an increase in drinking and driving typically occurs. Our idea was to partner with a news agency to do some stories and provide statistics as we went, Ballenger said. It took off and has really grown to a citywide project that WYFF called 4 Your Safety. Their producers liked the way we were presenting positive messages. We approached it with the idea that we could write one seatbelt ticket or target 40,000 people through the 4 Your Safety campaign. The partnership paid off as there were no summer traffic fatalities in the City of Greer. That s when WYFF took a programming risk and decided to continue the series with such topics as seat belt use, speeding, the K-9 units, driving while using prescription medicines and active shooter training. The series expanded to include valuable information from the Greer Fire Department, such as how to properly install a child safety seat and check lint traps behind home dryers to prevent a build up that may create a fire hazard. Powell didn t hesitate to dive into each experience. She operated lasers and radar to understand the importance of slowing speeders, entered the Sgt. Randle Ballenger Fire Department s burn tower, and rappelled at the training center. I think more than anything, it adds to your credibility for the viewers. It gives me experience which helps when researching and writing. And it puts me literally in a first responder s shoes. Powell said. It also earned Powell the respect of those she covers. The Police Department honored Powell and photojournalist Mark Lyon in September with its Citizen s Award. I ve never seen a reporter have the kind of access to a city like she does. She can basically come anytime she d like and do a story for the series, Ballenger said The series couldn t have come at a better time for both of us. Nationwide you have police agencies fighting with news media, but here in upstate South Carolina we have a series going that is very positive. It also helps, Ballenger said, for viewers to see the department s professionally-trained K9 officers, stateof-the-art radar, highly accurate tracking and reporting tools and interactive training simulator. We ve really been able to highlight how advanced much of the technology we have is and how we re able to use it, he said. We ve gotten a lot of feedback from people who said they had no idea we have the capabilities that we do. Local taxpayers see a huge return on their investment and people outside the city looking for somewhere to move see the City of Greer as that shining pinnacle on the hill a place they may want to move.
The City of Greer Fire Department hosted the 2017 Skills Competition March 31 at the Hood Road Burn Tower for vocational students from across South Carolina. At left, Fire Marshal Scott Keeley supported Ashley Livingston of Newberry in the hose pull exercise while Chansel Minick, also of Newberry, works on the knots challenge. Students were attempting to advance to the regional competition. Study: City is enterprise-friendly The City of Greer ranks third among the most enterprise-friendly in South Carolina according to a survey by Palmetto Promise Institute, a non-profit research organization based in Columbia. Central to the future health of our state is the ability of our cities and towns to attract businesses which can test the limits of their ingenuity right here in the Palmetto State, Palmetto Promise Institute Research Assistant Adam Crain said. In collaboration with Dr. John Hill of American Indicators, Dr. Oran Smith of PPI and I worked over the past few months to collect data in four major categories: economic vitality, business tax burden, community allure, and transportation infrastructure. Greenville County cities claimed five of the six top spots in the survey behind only the top-ranking city, Bluffton. Greer s third-place finish was, according to Crain, buoyed by a low business tax burden and the number one rank in transportation infrastructure a consequence, in part, of the development of the Inland Port. Greer scored a total of 72.52 points out of a possible 100, including 99.74 in transportation infrastructure and 91.44 in business tax We are very conscious about the importance of Greer s attractiveness to industries, businesses and entrepreneurs, Greer City Administrator Ed Driggers said. The Greer Development Corporation works diligently to ensure that we are known as a business friendly city with an outstanding infrastructure and a first-rate workforce. This survey validates that reputation. The City of Mauldin placed second overall in the survey with a score of 75.07 out of 100. The Cities of Simpsonville, Fountain Inn and Greenville, in order, trailed Greer in rounding out the top six spots. PPI noted on its website that although there are numerous comparisons of South Carolina s free enterprise friendliness to other states, the same sort of report comparing the state s cities and towns did not exist. That prompted the new report on cities.
new hires: welcome to TEAM Greer FIRE DEPARTMENT Corey Blackwell Derrick Davis Justin Dixon Thomas Gregory Ashley Lowry Andrew Morgan POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION Austin Chambers Thomas Cordell Brittany Eggleston Jeremy Grinnell Michael Haddon Tim Roberts Kyle Heaton Hampton Knapp Suzanne McKinnon Karie Cain Thomas Jones Catrina Woodruff PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS PARKS & RECREATION Vincent Rummell Sam Dobson Cassie Willard Employee Appreciation Picnic: June 3, 2017
Anderson claims top award at Academy Greer native and current Greer City Police Officer Sarah Anderson was recognized with the J.P. Strom Award as the top graduate of her Basic Law Enforcement Class at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Anderson accepted the award March 3 during her Academy graduation ceremony. The award is presented to the member of the graduating class who achieves the highest cumulative academic score, including the successful completion of all performance tests, during the nine-week training program. Officer Anderson is a homegrown member of the Greer community who got involved in our Citizen s Police Academy and our Citizens Academy Alumni Association. She decided that she wanted to pursue a career not only in law enforcement, but specifically with the Greer Police Department, Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby said. She excelled at the highest level during her training at the Criminal Justice Academy. We could not be more proud of one of Greer s own. We have high expectations of Officer Anderson in her upcoming years here at the Greer Police Department. Participants in the 12-week course at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy completed six tests on legal processes, and showed proficiency in defensive tactics, driving, firearms, and driving under the influence (DUI) standard field sobriety application and breath alcohol analysis. A minimum grade average of 96% is required to qualify for the J.P. Strom Award. Hamby said Anderson s academic success at the Academy came as no surprise considering she earned spots on the Chancellor s List and Dean s List as a student at the University of South Carolina Upstate prior to graduating in 2016. The Academy was challenging, but I enjoy a good challenge. It was TEAM TIDBITS by Francis Marion, College of Charleston, Costal Carolina and the South Carolina City / County Managers Association is for local government employees who have supervisory or management responsibilities, with a particular emphasis on those who work in rural or smaller organizations. important to stay focused because there was a lot of material, Anderson said. With her uncle, great uncle and great grandfather having worked as police officers, the lineage was definitely in Anderson s favor. She said she knew her career path was in criminal justice probably since I was four. It was just a calling. Anderson and her mother, Tina, completed the Greer Citizens Police Academy in 2012 and her twin sister, Emily, completed the program in 2014. All three volunteered with the department as part of the Citizens Academy s Alumni Association. Anderson now finds herself in uniform as a member of the GPD s Patrol Division, where she is partnered with Officer Wes Keller, the department s current Officer of the Year. The two admit they good-naturedly downplay the other s awards I really enjoy it. I want to stay in patrol for a while because I feel like that s where I m called to be, she said. Eventually, I may look into the K-9 Division. We ll have to see. Welcome to the world Olivia Grace Wilson, the third child and first daughter of Roman and Andrea Wilson. Olivia Grace was born on Feb. 15, 2017. Brandon McMahon will graduate from the Local Government Leadership Institute next week. The eight-month program sponsored Congratulations to Bryan Stephens for passing his Residential Electrical Inspector certification. I m very proud of him and glad he is a part of our team. On to commercial now, Building Official Ruthie Helms said. Kelli McCormick is now manager of the Planning & Zoning Division in Building and Development Standards. Red and Amy Watson welcomed their second son, Whit Dempsey Watson, to their family on Feb. 17, 2017. Whit weighed in at 8 pounds and 9 ounces and measured 20.5 inches.
New GPD leadership team takes over Ferrell, McWhite and Compton also earn promotions; Barnett is new K-9 handler A new leadership team with familiar faces assumed command of the Greer Police Department on April 1, as Chief Matt Hamby and Capt. Eric Pressley stepped into their new roles. Hamby, who began his policing career as a patrol officer with the City of Greer in 1993, was named in January as successor to Chief Dan Reynolds, who retired on March 31. We conducted a national search and received 50 applications, some internal and some from as far away as California and Utah, Greer City Administrator Ed Driggers said. We narrowed the field to 25 and then to eight. Matt Hamby continued to rise with each cut and it became apparent that the candidate with the right combination of experience, training and education was already among our ranks. Familiarity with the department and its personnel will make the transition easier, according to Hamby. I ve seen the City of Greer go through a lot of changes and growth over the years. I feel like I m a part of the culture of Greer and look forward to many more years here, he said. I m extremely honored and appreciative to have this opportunity. I can t think of a better place to serve in this capacity. Hamby was promoted to captain in 2014, serving as second in command of the department. In that role, he provided supervision of all division commanders, ensured compliance with department general orders, rules, regulations and standards, and represented the department at a variety of community events. From 2000-2014 he fulfilled lieutenant duties in the Operational Support, Criminal Investigation, and the Uniform Patrol divisions. He previously served as a sergeant with the Uniform Patrol Division and Traffic Unit, and an officer with the Traffic and Patrol units. Hamby has been honored as the Greer Police Department s Rookie of the Year and Officer of the Year. His diverse experience within the department includes responsibility for uniform patrol, telecommunications, traffic investigations, the detention facility, criminal investigations, vice and narcotics, crime analysis, crime mapping, community policing, internal affairs, policy development and administration. Hamby s promotion opened the Captain position to which Pressley, who most recently served as the lieutenant over the Criminal Investigation Division, was named in March. Capt. Pressley has fully applied himself in every assignment he has had throughout his career. He is passionate about promoting our mission of solving community crime problems by working with our residents and businesses. He is a true professional and takes pride in everything he does, Hamby said. He has the experience, education, and training necessary to serve in his new role. I have no doubt that he will be very successful in his new position as second in command of the Greer Police Department. The Captain s Office supervises the commanders of the department s four divisions and maintains professional standards for the department. The Office of Professional Standards is responsible for the investigation of alleged misconduct by police officers; the development and progress of the department s policies and procedures and grants. I have worked very hard over the last several years to broaden my law enforcement horizons through continuing education and training. The position of Captain will really give me an opportunity to apply so many of the new concepts and strategies I have learned in a bigger setting, Pressley said. Law enforcement has changed so much over the years. The changes have been difficult sometimes, but I truly believe they are for the best. We have to constantly look to improve ourselves and our profession. Pressley joined the Greer Police Department in 1994 and was promoted to sergeant four years later. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2002. A 2016 graduate of the FBI Academy, he holds a master s degree in criminal justice from Anderson University.. This department has progressed so much over the years and I want to be a part of helping our department continue to move forward, he added. It is a very exciting time to be a police officer for the City of Greer. We have a great department and enjoy such great support from the City leaders and the community. I can t think of a better place to be. With the new leaders in place, the two GPD veterans are eager to build on the success the department enjoyed under Reynolds. I think you will see a commitment to providing the highest level of police service possible. Chief Hamby is very detail oriented and has high expectations for those around him, Capt. Pressley said. We will both be committed to providing this community with officers that understand how important it is to treat everyone with dignity and respect. We will work very hard to maintain and improve upon our commitment to Community Policing and building those community ties. We both know that we succeed as a police agency only through community support. Other recent promotions at the department include Mike Ferrell to sergeant, Jonathan McWhite to corporal and James Compton to corporal. As a result of Compton s promotion, Anna Barnett will now partner with Stryker as the new K-9 handler.
City receives highest level of assurance from auditors The City of Greer received high marks following an independent audit of the its financial records and transactions for the 2015-16 fiscal year. The city s audit was completed by the accounting firm of S. Preston Douglas & Associates, LLP, of Lumberton, N.C. Lee Grissom, a partner in the firm, visited Greer in January 2017 to present to Greer City Council the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which contains the financial statements and other financial and statistical data that provide a full and complete disclosure of all material financial aspects of the city. I have nothing but good news to report, Grissom told council. We give a clean, unmodified audit opinion, which is the highest level of assurance. Management was very organized and forthright. Everything we requested was provided in a timely manner. The city seems to be on a good track. Key financial highlights identified in the audit are: The assets and deferred outflows of resources of the city exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows of resources by approximately $21,107,000 (net position). Of this amount, approximately $19,845,000 and $1,262,000 were related to the governmental and business-type activities, respectively. Governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of approximately $15,849,000, an increase of approximately $1,846,000 over the prior year s fund balance. Unassigned fund balance for the general fund was $9,956,266 or 48.3% of general fund expenditures and transfers. The $1,501,135 increase is primarily a result of the improved economic activity resulting in increased business license fees and additions to the city s tax base occurring through annexation and development. The city s long-term obligations, including lease purchases and compensated absences, decreased by $1,514,086 from $19,715,994 to $18,201,909, a reduction of 7.7% as principal payments outpaced new borrowing. The auditors also noted that council s and management s commitment to improving the financial stability is reflected in the city finishing the fiscal year approximately $280,000 under budget for expenditures in the General Fund. Every department completed the fiscal year under budget. I think all City of Greer employees recognize their roles in being good stewards of public funds. We always seek the best value when purchasing capital goods and services and actively look for grant opportunities to supplement budget expenditures, Chief Financial Officer David Seifert said. Something fishy going on It s always an adventure when the time comes to perform maintenance on the City Park Pond. In February, it was discovered that more than a dozen fish had made the pond their home since its last cleaning. Good Samaritan and fish lover John Gibson and his family rescued the new finned friends and relocated them to their backyard pond.
Greer is among safest cities in state The City of Greer is among the safest cities in South Carolina according to a new ranking released by SafeWise Report. SafeWise used the most recent FBI crime data from 2015 to analyze and rank these cities, which all have a minimum population of 2,000 people. Greer ranked #20 on the safest cities list. The citizens and law enforcement officers of South Carolina s 20 safest cities deserve recognition for their crime-fighting efforts. Based on the most current FBI Crime Report, residents of these cities experienced a 50% lower violent crime rate than people living in other Palmetto State communities. Additionally, half of the state s safest cities cited fewer than 20 total violent crimes from 2014 to 2015, said SafeWise security analyst, Alexia Chianis. No city can be among the safest in the state without the full support and cooperation of its residents, former Greer Police Chief Dan Reynolds said. We place a high priority on community policing and realize the benefits it provides to both our department and our community. So we share this recognition with the citizens who remain aware of their surroundings and neighborhoods and strive to make safety an ongoing goal. SafeWise, a community-focused security organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is committed to increasing safety education, awareness, and preparedness. Learn more at http://www.safewise.com. Congratulations! Team Greer bade farewell to three longtime employees last week as they headed into retirement. At left, Hazel Poston (who will stay on in Building and Development Standards through April due to a short staff) was the guest of honor at a reception. Below left, Dan Reynolds appeared on WSPA Friday morning with Matt Hamby and Christine Scarpelli discussing the Police Chief change. Bruce Viehmann (below) requested a quiet departure from his role as Grounds Superintendent. We wish all three the very best for happy and healthy retirements.
Robert South provided a highlight of the Employee Appreciation Breakfast when he nailed a solo during the new employee performance. City s 2016 Annual Report is available online The City of Greer s 2016 Annual Report is now available online, giving readers an opportunity to enjoy news and features in the now-familiar flipbook format or download the publication for offline reading. The report, titled Team Greer and produced by the city s communications office, includes information about programs and city news from the calendar year. It includes a feature on the City of Greer Center for the Arts and how the facility fits into to Greer Community Master Plan. Mini features cover the inaugural Greer Fire Department Citizens Academy, the Tube Dude public art project and artist Scott Gerber, and the Greer Police Department s partnership on safety videos with WYFF-TV. Also included are a financial report and a summary for each of the city s departments, as well as Greer Development Corporation and the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority. Feedback about the summary style in a flipbook format has been very positive. Visitors may read the report online, download the publication and read it at their leisure, or print a copy. It s the perfect answer to those who want a traditional annual report with the convenience of an online publication, Communications Manager Steve Owens said. It s easy to access, easy to read, and offers substantial savings over traditional printing and postage costs for an annual report. The report may be accessed at www.cityofgreer.org. The 2016 Annual Report is available online at www.cityofgreer.org.
GPD honors its own at awards banquet The Greer Police Department honored its own during its annual awards banquet held in January. Officers were awarded certificates and pins for years of service, safe driving, and perfect attendance. Those honored were: Certificate of Promotion: Mike Ferrell Education Award: Eric Pressley, Perry Bowens, Jonathan McWhite and Shenra Jackson-Cunningham Tactical Award: Anna Barnett, Lavatus Holcombe and Trent Parrott Field Training Officer: Angel Santana and Jonathan Saunders Good Conduct: Jason Bash, Ashley Guinn, Lavatus Holcombe, Tyler Mitchell and Chris Montgomery Police Shield: Jason Bash, Jeff Hemric and Lavatus Holcombe Life Saving Award: Shenra Jackson-Cunningham Certificate of Merit: James Compton and Jordan Williams Civic Achievement: Meghan Weibel Community Service Award: Lavatus Holcombe Mike Garfield Community Service Award: Bill Bennett Chief s Award: Brandon McMahan and Angie Childers Rookie of the Year: Lavatus Holcombe Civilian of the Year: Meghan Weibel Officer of the Year: Wes Keller Supervisor of the Year: Randle Ballenger WELLNESS COMMITTEE NEWS & NOTES Upcoming Wellness Events April 29 May 11 June 22 Reminder Pickleball...Tryon Center Kickball...Greer City Park Lunch and Learn...Greer City Hall Both you and your covered spouse are encouraged to participate in the Wellness Program (participating in two events such as last year s car care class counts as one point). To participate in the program, you must obtain at least 6 of the available 10 points, meet with the Wellness Nurse and submit all documentation to the Wellness Nurse by the due date. greer goes global international festival April 22 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Greer City Park
MyPlate.gov offers nutrional information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate is a reminder to find your healthy eating style and build it throughout your lifetime. Everything you eat and drink matters. The right mix can help you be healthier now and in the future. This means: Focus on variety, amount, and nutrition. Choose foods and beverages with less saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Start with small changes to build healthier eating styles. Support healthy eating for everyone. Eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors, including our stage of life, situations, preferences, access to food, culture, traditions, and the personal decisions we make over time. All your food and beverage choices count. MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health. Take a look at A Brief History of USDA Food Guides to learn more about previous food guidance symbols. Build a Healthy Eating Style All food and beverage choices matter focus on variety, amount, and nutrition. Focus on making healthy food and beverage choices from all five food groups including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy to get the nutrients you need. Eat the right amount of calories for you based on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level. Building a healthier eating style can help you avoid overweight and obesity and reduce your risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Choose an eating style low in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Use Nutrition Facts labels and ingredient lists to find amounts of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars in the foods and beverages you choose. Look for food and drink choices that are lower in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. Eating fewer calories from foods high in saturated fat and added sugars can help you manage your calories and prevent overweight and obesity. Most of us eat too many foods that are high in saturated fat and added sugar. Eating foods with less sodium can reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Make small changes to create a healthier eating style. Think of each change as a personal win on your path to living healthier. Each MyWin is a change you make to build your healthy eating style. Find little victories that fit into your lifestyle and celebrate as a MyWin! Start with a few of these small changes. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Focus on whole fruits. Vary your veggies. Make half your grains whole grains. Move to low-fat and fat-free dairy. Vary your protein routine. Eat and drink the right amount for you. Support healthy eating for everyone. Create settings where healthy choices are available and affordable to you and others in your community. Professionals, policymakers, partners, industry, families, and individuals can help others in their journey to make healthy eating a part of their lives.