No joke either: Bronze star recipient not pleased NSB mayor called cop/Iraq War veteran a 'pr-ck' while sarcastically shaking his hand
Volusia County Chair Jason Davis, shown here in an American flag campign photo, turns 51 today, April 1, 2013. What isn't a joke to Davis, recipient of the Bronze Star, is New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer disrespecting a city cop who served his country with a tour of duty in Iraq.NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- County Chair Jason Davis is 51 years old today and that's no April Fool's joke.
"Yes, I was born on April 1, 1962," Davis said over the weekend with a laugh. "I'll be 51 on April 1, no fooling."
Another thing that's far from a joke to Davis, a Bronze Star recipient for his tours of duty in the Iraq, is the verbal abuse a New Smyrna Beach cop took from that city's mayor before the start of the municipal Christmas parade.
New Smyrna Beach police officer RalphHunnefeld, shown at far left in this combat photo from the Iraq War, was called a 'pr-ck by Mayor Adam Barringer, shown here in the inset, after the cop wouldn't let the city's top elected leader cut through a barricaded side street prior to the start of the annual Christmas Parade. The mayor's behavior led to a rebuke from the Teamster's Union, which represents New Smyrna Beach cops.
Barringer got out of his vehicle, sarcastically shook Ralph Hunnefeld's hand and told him in no uncertain terms, "Thanks for being a 'pr-ck,'" when the officer waved him off from trying to drive through a barricaded side street on the beachside.
The Teamster's Union, which represents New Smyrna Beach cops, rebuked the mayor in a story published in Headline Surfer, demanding he apologize.
Barringer later apologized to Hunnefeld in a closed-door meeting arranged by City Manager Pam Brangaccio and Acting Police Chief Michael Brouillette, an apology Hunnefeld told his colleagues was not genuine.
Hunnefeld, who wanted an apology in writing, has declined to talk further on the incident, saying he just wants to put it behind him. Brangaccio and Brouillette have said they consider the matter closed. Barringer has refused to even acknowledge the incident even occurred and has gone about his business on the dais that way.
So why would any of this matter to County Chairman Davis?
Two reasons: Hunnefeld is a combat-tested veteran of the Iraq War, who saw American blood spilled in his own unit. And second, public officials, especially those in a position of leadership, should support their law enforcers, Davis said.
"That's an absolute disgrace on the part of the mayor for treating this officer with such disrespect -- an officer who served his country -- a vet!" said Davis, himself a veteran of two tours in Iraq and recipient of the Bronze Star. "He served his country and the mayor should know better when dealing with a police officer now serving his city. They mayor needs to show respect for the officers who put their lives on the line for all of us every day. I would never usurp my authority over their's in a such a situation like this to begin with. It's not right."
"That's an absolute disgrace on the part of the mayor for treating this officer with such disrespect -- an officer who served his country -- a vet!" said Davis, himself a veteran of two tours in Iraq and recipient of the Bronze Star. "He served his country and the mayor should know better when dealing with a police officer now serving his city. They mayor needs to show respect for the officers who put their lives on the line for all of us every day. I would never usurp my authority over their's in a such a situation like this to begin with. It's not right."
Asked if the mayor should publicly apologize to Hunnefeld, Davis said it wasn't in his place to make that call.
"He's the mayor," the county chair said. "He knows what is the right thing to do. Whether Mr. Barringer does or doesn't tell the citizens of New Smyrna tht he is sorry is something he has to live with."