Following arrest, Overland Park councilman removed from public safety committee
As Overland Park Councilman Scott Hamblin faces a domestic battery charge, Mayor Carl Gerlach has decided to remove him from the city’s public safety committee.
The move came after six council members on Monday called for Hamblin to step down from his position, worried that his alleged behavior was damaging the board’s reputation and integrity.
“I think while he’s in a (court case) with our police department, it’s probably best that he’s not making policy decisions for the police department while being on the public safety committee,” Gerlach said on Thursday. “In my 25 years on the City Council, we’ve never had a situation like this. We’ve got to do what’s best for the city.”
Councilman Chris Newlin, who represents the 6th Ward in southern Overland Park along with Hamblin, will take his place on the committee, which oversees police department policies.
Hamblin, 42 and a first-term councilman, was arrested on July 21, after the Overland Park Police Department was called to his residence in the 17700 block of Garnett Street. He was charged with one count of domestic battery with no priors, a class B misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of up to six months in jail or $500 in fines.
He is accused of “physical contact with a person, in a rude, insulting, or angry manner,” according to the criminal complaint. No injuries were reported. A court hearing was set for Sept. 16.
Hamblin has refused several requests from The Star to speak publicly about his arrest. But at Monday’s regular council meeting, he said he will not step down from the City Council and argued against allegations being made “before the discovery process is even over.”
In calling for his resignation, several of the city’s 12 council members said they were concerned about Hamblin’s ability to effectively serve while defending himself in court.
“If the citizens have lost confidence, and if the council has lost confidence in him, I think (his resignation) needs to be discussed,” Gerlach said.
The City Council does not have the authority to remove a member. Councilman Paul Lyons said he had also requested Hamblin’s removal from the public safety committee.
“What really strikes the heart of this for me is not whether (Hamblin) is actually innocent or guilty. That’s something he’ll have to deal with. But its his role as an elected official,” said Lyons, who is chair of the public safety committee. “His charge involves an arrest by the Overland Park Police Department, so it really presents a conflict for how he would deal with issues related to public safety.”
At Monday’s meeting, Councilman Faris Farassati argued against officials making allegations against Hamblin before he receives due process.
Hamblin’s wife, Curstin, said in a statement that the City Council was attempting to “score political gains from a private family matter.”
“This harassment toward my family is absolutely uncalled for,” she said.
Hamblin’s fellow elected officials continue to demand his resignation.
“We care about him and his family. And he obviously needs to take care of them first,” Gerlach said. “We also want to keep the reputation of the city very clean, as well as that of the people who are serving. So hopefully he makes the right decision.”
