Following much public comment condemning Trustee Peter DeToy's alleged conduct during two tape recorded phone conversations with police dispatchers, Brockport officials unanimously approved a resolution to seek DeToy's removal from office at their January 7 meeting.

Because of alleged comments made in a recorded conversation with Brockport police dispatcher Dave Smith on December 5 and because of another recorded phone call on October 31, village officials had originally requested DeToy's resignation from the board. They anticipated the resignation would be effective January 7, Mayor Josephine Matela said.

DeToy did not attend Monday's board meeting. Several people spoke out against DeToy's behavior and requested his resignation.

One resident, Inga Songbird, who attended the meeting carrying a bible and a large rock, asked board members and townspeople to not be the ones to cast the first stone. "We have all made mistakes," she said.

While she acknowledged that DeToy's words "affected and scared her," she urged forgiveness and compassion for DeToy. "I don't believe in labeling people," she said. "Labeling people means they have no chance for rehabilitation and redemption."

Songbird said she knows DeToy's words cannot be ignored or his behavior tolerated, she still urged compassion from the board. "The board can look at this as an embarrassment for the village or they can treat it as a learning experience," she said.

David Smith, the public safety dispatcher on duty who allegedly bore the brunt of DeToy's angry words, said his motivation in asking for DeToy's removal from office is not made out of revenge, but out of a concern for public safety. "Mr. DeToy made what I perceived as a direct threat ... his voice was sinister and chilling," Smith said. "Public safety is my primary concern."

He said he hoped for a peaceful solution to the situation.

Trustee Morton Wexler said the tapes made of the phone calls contained language that was quite profane and threatening to members of the police department.

The phone conversation allegedly stemmed from an incident in which Smith asks DeToy about his son, Michael DeToy, a police officer in the department. Officer DeToy was on sick leave at the time of the incident.

Wexler said there has been animosity on the police force and between some village board members since the firing/resignation of former police chief Gary Zimmer.

Following the board's decision to seek his removal from office, resident Doug Hickerson said the board's need to act is obvious. "The facts are out there," he said. "I would just ask that we not muddy the waters any further ... don't carry this further than the ultimate act of removing him from office."

Matela said the village's attorney, Edward Riley, has researched the actions necessary to proceed with DeToy's removal from office. "There are laws and precedents on the books that we will be following."

DeToy has been on the board since 1993. When asked for his comment on the board's request for his removal from office, he had no comment.