T H U R S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 225 JANUARY 19, 2017 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Meticulous training, selectivity in hiring key parts of CPD improvements: Gibson By LARRY C. BOWERS tor of the association’s Prayer Team. O’Neal also Gibson pointed out that Tuesday was a rough Banner Staff Writer announced that February’s program will be about day on the job, which can happen quite often in finances and taxes, with members of a local finan- his position. “This morning I had to go to court to Cleveland Chief of Police Mark Gibson updated cial firm visiting. testify on one of our former officers, who is now members of the Cleveland/Bradley Ministerial Gibson’s talk focused on details of what he’s going to prison,” he said. Also during the morn- Association Wednesday, telling them of changes working to develop within the CPD, as well as ing, city officers were called to an apparent over- and improvements that have been made at the some departmental and personal history. dose situation. CPD in the 16 months since he was appointed “I joined the police force in 1997, and this is my “This is what happens a lot in our job,” Gibson chief. 20th year,” he said. “I never expected to be where said. “But, we have to learn from the past and Gibson emphasized much of the improvement I am today.” Gibson began as a patrol officer, was move forward.” Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS has to do with training the city’s 91 officers, a field trainer, and spent nine years as a detec- Gibson said he appreciates the Cleveland Police CLEVELAND POLICE CHIEF Mark Gibson which enables them to do their job with increased tive. Department and the community, focusing on the was the guest speaker at Wednesday’s efficiency. He returned to patrol duty as a lieutenant, say- quality of his officers and how they have adapted Cleveland/Bradley Ministerial Association meet- “We have some of the best police officers in the ing he discovered the responsibilities of patrol offi- to a changing world. ing. The January meeting was held at First Baptist state and the nation,” Gibson proudly proclaimed. cers had changed drastically. “I was embarrassed Church. Gibson was introduced by David O’Neal, direc- that I didn’t take notice of that,” he said. See GIBSON, Page 13 Inside Today Former CPD COMPARING CIVIL RIGHTS, BLM officer gets 2 movements 3 years for sought voice, fraud, filing opportunity false report LEE UNIVERSITY HUMANITIES and justice professor Dr. Mary McCampbell addresses the crowd gathered for Millan’s case By SARALYN NORKUS her lecture titled “Let Justice Roll Banner Staff Writer Down: MLK & Black Lives Matter,” involved arson To continue their week dedi- which was hosted by the By ALLEN MINCEY cated to Dr. Martin Luther King “Leebertarian” student club Tuesday Banner Staff Writer Jr., Lee University’s student club night. Ryan looks to — the “Leebertarians” — hosted Banner photo, SARALYN NORKUS Edwin Millan, a former a lecture called “Let Justice Roll Cleveland Police officer, was sen- secure legacy Down: MLK & Black Lives tenced Monday to three years in Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matter,” which was presented by prison in connection with the Matt Ryan hopes to secure his Associate Professor of arson of a vehicle in Murray legacy with a Super Bowl ring. Humanities Dr. Mary County, Ga., in 2015. Walker Valley’s Cooper Melton is McCampbell. Circuit Court Judge Andrew heading to Knoxville as a pre- “I think (this is an important Freiberg imposed the sentence for ferred walk-on for the Volunteers topic) because regardless of what Millan for insurance fraud over football team. Four local bowlers your opinion is, just talking $1,000, filing a are looking to make their mark at about it and talking through it false police the state tournament. Tonight is a helps people form opinions and report, and big night on the wrestling mat, helps them to form their opinions tampering with with the No. 2 Bradley Central on substantive, intellectual con- evidence. Bears taking on Soddy-Daisy and versation instead of their own Millan was the No.-1 ranked Cleveland Blue individual and how they process found guilty in Raiders visiting Walker Valley. things,” Leebertarian Nate Myers early October See Sports, Pages 9-11. said. 2015 of those McCampbell began her lecture charges in con- Is media being by stating that many African- nection with American scholars and journal- the arson of a Millan fair to Trump? ists feel that Martin Luther King motorcycle of a Jr. Day has become a “white- friend, then for burning his own Throughout the presidential cam- washed” holiday, referring to the vehicle in Georgia. paign, and now headed into Friday’s Millan was indicted on conspir- inauguration, many continue to ask See CIVIL RIGHTS, Page 13 acy to commit insurance fraud of the same question: “Is the news at least $1,000 in connection with media giving President-elect Donald the disappearance of the motorcy- Trump a fair shake?” Some say cle, fraudulent insurance claims “yes.” Some say “no.” Mostly, it of at least $1,000, official miscon- duct and tampering with evidence depends on who’s doing the talking. EMS facing more collections issues to help the motorcycle owner com- For some more talk, see the guest mit fraud. “Viewpoint” on Page 12 of today’s By BRIAN GRAVES the two entities. According to 10th Judicial edition. Banner Staff Writer Fairbanks reported at the time District Attorney General Steve “This is not going to AMB had followed that plan "to a meet his projections or Crump, two of those charges were Problems are continuing with T." dismissed, and Millan was sen- Forecast my projections as to the billing services being con- The committee withdrew its tenced on the three counts that tracted by the Bradley County what is going on.” Today’s forecast calls for cloudy request for contract termination remained. EMS. — Shawn Fairbanks during a meeting in August. Millan was reportedly free on a skies and a 70 percent chance of That was the word from showers, with a high near 66. At the recent meeting of the $20,000 bond. He was represent- Emergency Services Director of ending the contract after EMS Committee, Fairbanks drew ed in court by attorneys John Tonight, showers and possibly a Shawn Fairbanks. Fairbanks reported several a different picture of how the Cavett and Barry Abbott. thunderstorm are likely, with a low The county contracted with billing operations are perform- Millan was dismissed from the around 55. South winds of 10 to 15 AMB in September 2015 to pro- glitches by AMB, including incorrect billing and poor cus- ing. Cleveland Police Department after mph could gust as high as 20 mph. vide billing services and soft- “I got excited that one month he was identified through an ware, along with a guarantee of a tomer service. Friday looks to be mostly cloudy, However, AMB Executive because it got to where I wanted investigation by the Tennessee 10 percent increase in cash per Highway Patrol as the person with a high near 69. Friday night Director Bill Harrod met with it to be and where it usually is. It transport. was something like $450,000 a involved in the motorcycle theft should be mostly cloudy, with a low Fairbanks and County Attorney The county would pay AMB a month. We need to be in there to and filing the false report, as well around 55. Crystal Freiberg on June 11. service fee of 5.25 percent per about $500,000 a month,” as being involved in the burning month of net collections for a That meeting produced a plan Fairbanks said. “After that, it of his vehicle in North Georgia. He Index three-year term. of action from which AMB and dropped down to the $350,000 reportedly filed a false insurance The EMS committee voted in EMS felt they produced a better Classified................................14-15 June to begin the 90-day process line of communication between See EMS, Page 13 Shawn Fairbanks See FRAUD, Page 13 Comics...........................................6 Editorials......................................12 Horoscope......................................6 NASCAR......................................16 ‘It is a real honor,’ Stan Evans says Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 Sports........................................9-11 TV Schedule..................................7 of DAV Veteran of the Year award Weather..........................................8 By LARRY C. BOWERS Perhaps the most notable accom- Banner Staff Writer plishment of the Cleveland/Bradley Around Town “I’m proud of the growth of County veteran is that he was instru- Stan Evans, the Veteran of the Year the SAR chapter, but I’ve had mental in the founding of the Cleveland James Bradford dropping by to for Disabled American Veterans good people to help along the Chapter of the Sons of the American pick up some information while Chapter 25, said he earned the honor way.” — Stan Evans Revolution. enjoying a chat with friends ... John through “involvement.” The chapter was founded on Dec. 5, Thomasson thanking a friend and “I was involved with about everything 2003, with 29 members. It has grown talking about some hoped-for plans the chapter had going on,” Evans said is a member of the American Legion, to 214 members and is easily the ...Trina Norton offering her opinion in a recent interview. Veterans of Foreign Wars, and has largest SAR chapter in Tennessee. He was involved with the DAV Car served on the Bradley County Veterans “I’m proud of the growth of the SAR on her husband’s “Ham & Beans” Show at Bradley Square Mall. He and Home Committee.