It was standing room only as about 100 people turned out Monday night to speak their minds to Norway City Council about the hiring of a new police chief. Some citizens were not in the mood to listen as they regularly spoke out of turn, shouting out and heckling the council and other citizens.
Many residents are unhappy with the hiring of an Illinois man for the post.
Several local candidates, including Acting Chief Fred Smith, were rejected. A petition has been circulating to protest the decision. Mayor Omer Brooks quickly took charge and dispensed with routine council chores, but not without interjections from the crowd. City Manager Mark Isackson addressed the assembly first, walking into the center of the crowd as he spoke. Isackson gave the history of the chief of police position, outlining the retirement of Chief David Mott, the appointment of Smith as interim chief, and details of the professional search process undertaken late last year.