By Stephen Owsinski, OpsLens:
The mayor of Stuart, Florida, Eula Clarke, made an unmistakable, police-centric epithet on January 11, 2017. In a day and age of reflection, and with communities across America beckoning police reform stemming from disconnect in race relations, we have a mayor in a small mom-and-pop-owned grocery store openly stating, “I didn’t know we were serving pig tonight.” Standing within earshot of Mayor Clarke was Officer Fitzgerald, a Stuart police officer who overheard his city leader’s disparaging remark.
Officer Fitzgerald had the grace and humility to depart the grocery store and then confer with his police union delegates and colleagues.
Of course, one could plausibly argue that Mayor Clarke actually meant pieces of pork or whole parts of an actual pig. However, there were no such things for sale in the tiny store. Once the remarks became known to the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, Mayor Clarke’s leadership role was in serious jeopardy. Actually, it was in trouble when she had the idea in the first place—and somehow felt it appropriate to unleash such a statement against the police institution.
Although Mayor Clarke formally apologized on City of Stuart letterhead, it was dated January 27, 2017. That is 16 days after the remark was made…and only in response to Palm Beach County PBA president John Kazanjian, who publicized the Stuart mayor’s anti-police comment on his police union’s letterhead. Thereafter is when print and TV media came knocking, right after Mayor Clarke was outed for her disparaging comment.
Would Mayor Clarke have self-initiated an apology and explanation for her actions had she not received a copy of the police union’s statement of rebuke? She certainly should have, but first and foremost she should have introspected her contempt toward police while still fulfilling a government leadership role.
In addressing her ugly remark, Mayor Clarke responded to the police union in this fashion: “My choice of words, and my speech, was patently offensive, and I would hope that Ofcr. Fitzgerald and all law enforcement would forgive me for this transgression.” Cops are forgiving. Not only is it human nature, but in policing it is essential to let words roll off like water off a duck’s back. Nevertheless, why make such a statement? We are talking about an elected public official who has political stature and governance over approximately 17,000 residents and all departments who facilitate city services, including public safety.
In her acknowledgement to the PBA, Mayor Clarke wrote how the city of Stuart has “a strong policy against employee harassment” and how she supports it. The forces in the mom-and-pop store must’ve been so strong so as to suppress principled thinking. It’s a wild guess, I know.
View any TV footage and/or read any of her printed statements and you will witness a city official with a seemingly tucked tail, and in televised instances, a noticeably sweaty brow. As of this writing, reports are that folks from all around the nation are flooding Stuart’s governing representatives with calls and letters urging the termination of Mayor Clarke. Some beckon the stepping-in of Florida governor Rick Scott to voice his concerns should Stuart’s city commissioners become disabled in duty.
In televised interviews, Mayor Clarke claims she met with Officer Fitzgerald and “expressed to him how sorry it is that this unfortunate event happened.” “Unfortunate event”? The only role the policeman played was being near his mayor, on duty and donning a police uniform, while having two functioning ears to hear a tired epithet. No more, no less—except he was in the line of fire of a politico who harbors anti-cop sentiments.
The cat got out of the bag, and the reputation of the good mayor and her city is now tarnished with a few words carrying the magnitude of a disparity so many have been hoping to overcome.
“All law enforcement officers are very important to me and the city of Stuart” Mayor Clarke noted. I believe “the city of Stuart” is the sincere part and has its cops’ interests at heart. The former part has a vast disconnect—desperate, disingenuous words spoken by a city leader who apparently lost her way.
“Please know that I will never repeat this type of comment in my personal or professional life,” Mayor Clarke added. Naturally! But one must wonder about the thoughts that fuel the words uttered by any human being. There is much behind the scenes that perpetrates such ideas. I have no clue about her personal life, but I can confidently say I suspect her professional life may warrant a sabbatical after which employment may be a difficult challenge. And it all evolved from being caught saying, “I didn’t know we were serving pig tonight.” How sad to have once raised a hand to take a sworn oath and violate it in a mom-and-pop establishment, or anywhere for that matter.
This from a mayor who knows she made a tremendous mistake and who knows she is up against the ropes. But she wants the Stuart police force to know, “I have their backs.” I don’t buy it. I don’t believe Officer Fitzgerald buys it either. And, from the looks of it, neither do countless American citizens who are deluging Stuart with expectations of ousting Mayor Clarke.
As of this writing, Stuart City Commission members are convening to consider parting ways with their mayor. Correctly, they are concerned with the huge black eye stemming from the punch launched by the good mayor. Now, the healing process involves many because of the words of one.
Speaking of the words of one, Martin Luther King, Jr. had glorious, heartfelt sentiments founded in all folks becoming a united people. The Stuart Police Department headquarters is located on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in the heart of Stuart. In a fateful perspective, the irony of the street name and the city police who anchor their efforts on it with a mission to serve the people struck me. What would Dr. King think of this “unfortunate event”?
Stuart city commissioner Troy McDonald has requested Mayor Clarke’s resignation from the get-go. According to a Fox News report, Commissioner McDonald stated, “Words have consequences. It’s going to take more than just sitting up here and saying ‘I’m sorry.’” Removal of the mayor is the only logical next step, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
Stephen Owsinski is a Senior OpsLens Contributor and retired law enforcement officer whose career included assignments in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Field Training Officer (FTO) unit. He is currently a researcher and writer.
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