Police Officers, City Officials Resign After New Black Female
Mayor Elected
By Kelly Chen
April 21, 2015 "Information
Clearing House" - Most of the police force and
several officials resigned after the small town of Parma, Missouri elected its
first African American woman as mayor,
reported KFVS.Tyrus Byrd, a former city clerk, was
officially sworn in as mayor on Tuesday after beating incumbent Randall Ramsey.
Ramsey had served as mayor of Parma for 37 years under two terms.
The outgoing mayor said
five of the city's six police officers submitted their resignation, citing
"safety concerns." Parma's city attorney, clerk and water treatment supervisor
also quit.
Some Parma residents say they aren't worried about safety now
that the police force has shrunk. "I think it's pretty dirty they all quit
without giving her a chance," resident Martha Miller told KFVS. "But I don't
think they hurt the town any by quitting, because who needs six police for 740
people."
At her swearing in ceremony, Byrd said that she is looking to
getting things in order for the city.
