By Dale Barnett
Elmore/Autauga News
Editor’s Note: One of the first things taught to those studying journalism is, keep it brief. Most people never read past the third paragraph. So, a condensed version of this story is simply this. Now the former Mayor, Johnny Hammock, had a lot to say about the reasons he was removed as Superintendent of Utilities, and why he tendered his resignation as Mayor, which became official Friday afternoon. It was a vast conspiracy, he said. A coup – to make him look bad, because he was the only person strong enough to stand against corruption and wrongdoing. The following article is a play by play of the last meeting Hammock held shortly before he walked away from his position as Mayor. As always, we simply report, and leave the opinions to our dear readers. On this issue, there are many. Good Luck to you Johnny Hammock in your future endeavors.
One of the last acts by former Tallassee Mayor Johnnie Hammock was to meet with the NAACP Elmore County President Bobby Mays, NAACP Elmore County member Anna Henderson and Tallassee City Councilman Damian Carr (Ward 3) on Thursday afternoon. The meeting was held in the conference room at Tallassee City Hall. A representative of the Tallassee Tribune was also present for most of the meeting along with this EAN reporter.
Hammock invited the press to sit in the meeting, which was held at the request of Mr. Mays to inquire about recent reports concerning two Tallassee residents that Hammock has alleged were mishandled by the city police department.
One incident involved Tony Brown on May 30th when he allegedly sped away from a moving violation stop for no tag and drugs were allegedly spotted inside the car. Brown reportedly led officers on a short, high-speed chase before jumping out of the moving vehicle and running through the woods. He was quickly apprehended.
The abandoned vehicle crashed into an occupied mobile home with children inside and knocked the home off its blocks. Officers also stated that Brown fell into a ravine while running through the woods. Now former Officer Salum used a collapsible baton four times on Brown in order to get him to the ground, hitting him three times in the upper thighs and once on the lower torso according to Tallassee Police Chief Todd Buce.
Hammock alleges that the sounds on the body cam appear to indicate Brown was beaten repeatedly. Haynes ambulance and Tallassee hospital reported that head injuries for Brown were consistent with jumping from a moving vehicle, falling in a ravine and his tussle with the officers. Hammock says the wounds on Brown’s head had to be from a beating.
The second incident happened on June 19 on West James S. in Tallassee when officers were responding to a shots fired call. During the course of officers trying to investigate the call, a resident named Perry Jackson reportedly continued to harass the officers. Officer Salum said he was aware that Jackson had seven outstanding warrants for Failure To Appear and arrested Jackson.
While trying to get a handcuffed Jackson into the police vehicle a large crowd had gathered and during this ordeal Jackson attempted to throw his cell phone to someone in the crowd. However, it hit officer Salum in the head. Salum said he was unsure what had hit him, retrieved his partner’s taser and informed Jackson he had three seconds to sit down in the vehicle or he would be tased. Salum counted down, waited 19 seconds according to reports, and backed away from Jackson before firing the taser at Jackson. Jackson slid down to the ground. The officers were then able to load him in the police vehicle.
Jackson was later taken to the Tallassee hospital to have the taser hooks removed. Hammock alleges this was excessive force, that Jackson was tased at point blank range and a suspect in handcuffs should never be tased.
Hammock opened the meeting explaining that as of 4 p.m. he would no longer Mayor and could no longer assist in city matters. He briefly explained to Mays both incidents and stated he could not sit idly by while a police department he had built was torn down by a new chief and the current city council.
Mays asked about the position of Police Chief and Hammock explained it was an appointed position. Hammock said he never had a vote on the chief, but that Carr had voted against the current chief, telling the council that Buce was not the right person for the job. Hammock pointed out that the council and the police department made sure everyone got a raise even though the country is going through a recession. Hammock said that the council was worried about getting more money (for the officers) even though the chief “is so lax on them” and, as Hammock said “allows anything to go on at the department.”
Hammock also said the chief was currently on vacation while the city was on the verge of a “racial riot.”
Hammock also stated that the chief had lied to him about both reported incidents and “tried to cover it up.” Hammock said he would have fired the chief but did not have the authority and the council was backing the chief. He alleged this is because of an ongoing coup against him that started when the former mayor said he caught a city council person in a PPP scam (Paycheck Protection Program passed by Congress during the pandemic).
Mays asked Hammock about the hiring process, and he explained he always did an extensive background check until the Council fired him from his position as manager of the Utility Department. He said at that time, he could no longer be available at his office to handle many things because he had to start working his own business to earn money.
Hammock said the chief should have checked the official police website provided that gives information on former officers from other police departments. Hammock said Buce could have checked with other departments. But Hammock said after these latest incidents, when he called to check on the background of Salum, the other police departments did not want to say anything official.
Hammock explained these police officers and departments have a code between them and do not share with the public. Again, Hammock stated Salum was hired in September 2021 when the City Council started their coup against him.
Mays inquired about the rumors of past issues with Salum’s police record and Hammock reminded him that the police have this “code” and it is hard to get them to speak out. He said unless the department puts something in the files and online about reasons for an officer being fired, suspended or leaving the department, it is hard to find the facts.
Hammock said he had even lost a big customer with his consulting company in the last few days because of his stance with the police department and calling in ALEA to investigate. He said he did not care because he “was protecting the city.”
Hammock told Mays that the reason he first investigated the incident with Brown was because his own lawyer, Julian McPhillips, asked him if he knew Tony Brown when they saw each other at an event in Montgomery. Hammock said he told him that they went to school together and played on the football team, but he had not seen him in a long time. Hammock claims he went to the police department the next day and demanded all the files on Brown. He said he was “shocked” at the photos of the injuries. Hammock claims Chief Buce gave him conflicting stories about the incident and never reported it (to him) when it first occurred.
Mays asked Hammock if Salum was still employed with the Tallassee Police Department. Hammock told him he had ordered Salum to be fired after he saw a video of the June 18th incident.
Hammock said when he came into the office on Tuesday and saw where Salum had worked the night before, he contacted Buce again, demanding Salum be fired immediately. Salum was still on probation with the Tallassee department. Hammock said he understood Salum was fired either sometime Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hammock also offered that the Council contacted him to request Salum not be fired but let the investigation continue. Hammock said it was the Council trying to delay until he was out of office, but he was not going to allow this “out-of-control officer” to continue working for Tallassee.
Mays then inquired about the use of body cameras by the department and if there were issues with the cameras during these incidents. Hammock said he fought to make sure the department had body cameras and that they have instructions to always have them on during any incident or calls.
Hammock brought an alleged accusation that a prime incident happened at City Hall with a current Tallassee council person who allegedly yelled and cussed out personnel at the department over an ordeal concerning an alleged affair. Hammock said an officer showed up during this incident. When questioned later about body camera footage, the officer allegedly said he had it off since it involved a councilman at city hall. Hammock said he made it a priority with the department for officers to have their body cameras recording regardless of who and where an incident occurred. Hammock alleged that the Council was trying to cover it up.
Mays asked Councilman Carr his thoughts on the incidents. Carr said he was not really familiar with the incident with Brown but saw the video with Jackson being tased and stated, “Regardless of color, no one should ever be tased while in handcuffs.”
Carr said he could not understand why the officers did not use more force to get the suspect in the vehicle. When asked about the cell phone being thrown and hitting officer Salum, Carr said he did not see that but would go back and look at the video again.
Hammock said that he recently told the council they needed to go into immediate executive session to discuss the police chief and officer Salum. However, he said City Attorney John Smith did not agree. Hammock also said that several council members told him that there was a process for an investigation, and it should be followed before any actions taken.
Hammock said he was told Chief Buce has a formal process for investigations. Hammock said a council member tried to downplay the incident saying use of a taser was a legal means for compliance from suspects unwilling to cooperate. The council person wanted to have discussions with Buce and officers after the report from the investigation is released.
Mays asked Hammock if he could provide any records showing if Salum was terminated and if his records show the reason for the termination. Mays said he was concerned if the officer could be hired again with another police department without their knowledge of Salum’s reported background. Hammock said he could not verify that information nor could be provide those records because he had less than 15 minutes as mayor and advised Mays to check with the City Clerk or the next Mayor.
Hammock said another city administration employee was another person involved in the coup against him when he allegedly caught them stealing from the city. Hammock said he tried to take this accusation before the council.
Hammock said the accused employee started allegations of sexual harassment. “And that is when the council fired me for no reason from my city job (as Supt. Of Utilities),” he said.
Hammock then pointed out that it was at this point alleged city council coup began and all the “wild stories” in the press against him for over two years.
Hammock looked over at the only two media representatives present and stated to a Tallassee area media reporter, “I hope you are happy…with all the lies and gossip you have spread about me and my family and misinforming all the good people of Tallassee. You are a hack. Always ready to write such negative things about me and character assassinations but never about your own self.”
Hammock continued to make allegations about the reporter, who sat in stunned silence. Hammock further stated, “I will make it my mission when I am gone to get you fired.”
Hammock returned to Mays and told him there was even a cover up of the chief hiring a “criminal” on the police force with a potential new officer that had charges on him, and the chief paid the fines to cover up the charges so nobody would know.
Mays then asked Hammock about another former employee who worked in the utility department and had been an employee for 13 years. He said that person was fired over a single incident in a conflict with a fellow employee but no one else was fired. Mays said that the employee fired was the only black employee (with that department.)
Hammock said there was a four-man crew that was instructed specifically on making a repair. The crew went to the location near the middle school where a video captured the incident. Hammock said the now former employee allegedly told the others another way to make the repairs and the rest of the crew advised him that the supervisor gave specific instructions. During the investigation it was revealed that the former employee started cussing the others and then laid hands on one of the other crew members starting a tussle. Hammock said in review, the employee was fired for starting a fight and laying hands on another employee. Mays asked if there was any recourse for him to get his job back and Hammock said, with a chuckle, if the next Mayor hires their “drinking buddy” as a supervisor in the utilities department, then it might be possible.
NAACP member Henderson asked about the number of black officers on the current force. Hammock told her that he thought there were two black officers but suggested checking with the City Clerk who he said was also on vacation “during such a crucial time.”
Hammock told Mays that he would need to contact the next Mayor to get any other information, but Mays “should be aware that the council is crooked.” Hammock said that the city council has done everything possible against him simply because “I exposed them along with some other shady businesses.”
Hammock said his wife was so afraid of something happening to them after he was no longer mayor and he pointed to the press. He told the media, “Please print they should go to the building on Barnett Boulevard first.” (That is the location of the police department).
Hammock said he had five minutes left as mayor and was glad to be leaving this “dumpster fire” as they concluded the meeting.
