Brenda Christy and Myrtle Beach’s Retire/Rehire Policy

By Paul Gable

Last week we reported on the publication of “Superlative Soul or Nefarious Soul” a book by former Myrtle Beach Police Department officer Brenda Christy.

Christy’s book documents her experiences in the department leading to, and after, her filing a sexual discrimination and harassment lawsuit against MBPD and the city including the resulting retaliation directed at her.

Creative memory during depositions, changed stories as time went on and the creation of documents to bring clouds on Christy’s performance were all part of the formula to help the city beat Christy’s charges.

In one example, a ‘demotion notebook’ was specially created to give Chief Gall the excuse he needed to either demote or fire Christy. It was not part of Christy’s personnel file and was created as much as 10 years after the fact.

Christy’s first became aware that such a document existed when it was presented by the city’s legal team with ‘first interrogatories and continuing request for documents.’

This and other revelations make interesting reading about a department that bends to the will of the top of its command staff rather than dealing with incidents in a realistic manner.

However, as the city election season quickly draws upon us, maybe the most important issue Christy addresses is the city’s extended use of a retire-rehire program.

This is where the top echelon of city employees, in many departments, has retired, then rehired, under contract, by the city at the same position and same or increased rate of pay as was earned before retirement.

One must seriously question whether such a policy is best use of taxpayer dollars, especially when it appears to result in an arrogant upper level of city management that considers itself beyond rebuke.

Read more about Christy and her book at: http://athorninmyside.com/