Citizens and Police Sound Off On Nielson's Firing

Following a rare Friday afternoon meeting, the eureka city council met last night at their regularly scheduled time, and, not surprisingly, many residents came to voice their opinions about the firing of Garr Nielson, what was surprising is who participated in the discussion…newschannel 3’s Cameron Cramer was at the meeting and joins us in the newsroom with more…Cameron? quot;Thank you for having the courage that alluded the previous city council, and city manager."SaidDee-Dee Wilson, a former e-p-d dispatcher who once sued for harassment while working for the department said this about the former chief. "Immediately I went from being a favorite employee of Nielson to a target of his dislike. Within two weeks I was reassigned out of dispatch, where my career is and always will be." Said Wilson.  Wilson was sued by fellow EPD employee Tawnie Hansen for being behind the Above the Law blog and paid Hansen $10,000 to settle the case.  But it wasn’t all negative comments from the crowd. "I have brought you petitions, these petitions were filled out in approximately two hours. We are not the vocal majority," Said Eureka Resident Sylvia Scott. Tyson then carried the petitions for his own resignation to the city clerk... "I feel that you did not act in the interest of our city, and you did not act in the interest of my safety." Said Scott However, as many opponents Tyson had, he also had supporters "I believe the member of your council who spearheaded this petition drive has been disingenuous." Said one resident Some current police employees took a stance in support of the council. "I would like to say, on the record, that I have complete confidence in the city manager, the city council and our interimchief.” Said a member of the police force. One officer says those patrolling the streets are the ones who made the real difference in making residents feel safer. "They were the ones, day in and day out responding to calls, taking calls and putting themselves in harms way... It wasn't a chief, it wasn't a lieutenant, it was the people who were out there day in and day out." Said EPD officer Patrick Bishop