Ferry Mayor Seeking Advice on Next Step
By SHELLEY HANSONMARTINS FERRY - Now that his police chief is facing a potential 10-year jail term, Mayor Phil Wallace must decide what the next step is for the city of Martins Ferry.
"We're sorry something like this happened in our small community," Wallace said Monday evening following the verdict against police Chief Barry Carpenter.
A Belmont County jury convicted Carpenter of three charges in a case that alleged he broke into the home of local woman Michelle Ross who served as the surrogate to Hollywood couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's twin daughters. Carpenter was found innocent on two counts of burglary, but was found guilty of theft in office, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence.
Wallace said his next step is to talk with city Law Director Dan Fry.
"I hope the citizens can work through all this, and keep going and make the best of what we've got," Wallace added.
Wallace noted he heard earlier Monday that one of Carpenter's convictions would ensure that he would never again work as a lawman in the state of Ohio.
"That's one of the things I need to talk to our law director about," Wallace noted.
If it was up to Martins Ferry resident Neal Ulrich, Carpenter would never be allowed on any police force again.
"He's supposed to protect and serve. It doesn't make sense to me," Ulrich said while standing outside of Kroger. "It's absolutely sickening."
Ulrich described Carpenter's actions as an abuse of power and authority. The surrogate, meanwhile, was just trying to do a couple a favor - famous or not, he said.
While grocery shopping, Jeff Wojcik of Martins Ferry said he personally knows Carpenter and believes he did a good job as chief.
"He's a good guy. It's a shame what happened. He's done a lot of good in the valley and the town. It's a shame he got caught up in that," Wojcik said. "I think Barry is a good guy."
Martins Ferry resident John Cowgill believes Carpenter is "getting off easy."
"If it was you or me, we'd get the book thrown at us," Cowgill said while browsing a magazine rack. "I think he's getting away with it because of his office. A lot of people think he's getting off easy."
Joy Reynolds, a Bridgeport resident whose children attend Martins Ferry schools, said the verdict against Carpenter was a slap on the wrist.
"I think everybody knows everybody in town and it's not fair," Reynolds said.
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catlover2
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11-26-09 8:27 AM
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Jimmy nut job,how many democrats has your wife been dating?
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SphinxRising58
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11-25-09 1:43 PM
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MR. Mayor, I have some advice for you: A ). Fix the park, it's falling apart. B ). Stop buying vehicles for personal use with tax payer's money. C ). Stop acting like this is the good old south & you are one of the good old boys that can play fast & loose with the law ( and your duties ) & expect to get away with it.
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JamesT
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11-25-09 12:08 PM
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People, look... you have these small town thieves in politics. We have a one party social net welfare towns not capable of balancing a check book. They are Ole buddies in the same political local party lining thier pockets with graff and niptism. They have NO fear of being voted out of office, since we vote straight ticket. We need to seriously look into eliminating entire municipalities to spare the taxed burden citizens. We are controled by a one party socialist welfare entity that has been broken and corrupt. The well is dried up and the family ties are still milking fronm the troughs. Look at the areas that are thriving versus the areas that are dying. See the patterns? Research for yourselves and see why two party areas are better areas of standard of living compared to the one party controlled areas like us.
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blackbear
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11-25-09 10:04 AM
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This was just another case of the "buddy system" that exists in small towns such as ferry/bridgeport etc.. If you folks think this carpenter is going to do hard time you are dreaming. They will give him probation and send him on his way. Hey mayor here is an idea...get a chief from someplace where nobody knows him here so you can have honest law enforcement. Instead of concentrating on trying to pick up people on rt 7 why don't you clean up your town of drugs and unwed child births.
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HillsMan
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11-25-09 9:17 AM
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Hey Mayor...Make Carpenter's mother the next Chief!
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rover1958
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11-24-09 11:24 PM
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'Ferry Mayor Seeking Advice'...... Folks, you can't make this stuff up. Hello, Mr. Mayor!!! He's GUILTY! Duh! If You don't know whether to s&*# or go blind, well.....wink one eye and pass gas! Better yet, walk around with a lantern looking for an honest man to be your police chief.
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Shark88
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11-24-09 9:49 PM
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Mayor Wallace, I don't think the citizens will have any problem working all through this, keeping going, and making the best of what they got. On the other hand, you might have a problem working thru this since the Chief was your man.
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JamesT
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11-24-09 7:53 PM
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Let's establish a K Y Jelly Fund for these two and we will make sure the prisoners know they are dirty cops!
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JamesT
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11-24-09 7:51 PM
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Gotta love the Democratic Party of the Upper Ohio Valley. They have been in control for so many generations, they figure they are above the law. It was nearly comical seeing his mother rant how he was railroad. Lady: "He is an officer of the law. He knows better. He is a corrupt thief and lowlife dirty cop." Yes, Bill Clinton got away with lying to a federal grand jury and obstructed justice. Again he is Slick Willy. However, this Carpenter guy has people in his dying steel town furious. One man said: " If that was any of us, Carpenter would have us handcuffed and our face bleeding in the pavement". We have yet another sleazy and possibly corrupt dirty cop next. If only the avaerage citizen knew what shady things go on in the county governmenmts, they would all be voted out. So, go ahead and keep voting straight ticket and get the people in office you deserve. When SFast Fredie Abdalla had evidence " lost" during his trial and the star witness " dies
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weshatch
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11-24-09 12:04 PM
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Next step is simple, it ios against the lae in Ohiuo for him to be a police offier, never mind chief. The next step in to find a new person.
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leprechuntallest
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11-24-09 11:24 AM
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Obviously Mr. Carpenter cannot ever again command the respect necessary to function effectively as a police officer. He may be a "good guy" but he clearly is a very flawed police chief.
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valley148
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11-24-09 11:08 AM
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Welcome to the backwoods of Democracy--Belmont County and the Ohio River Valley!!!!
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CTMountaineer
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11-24-09 9:22 AM
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This is an extreme example of the culture that exists in law enforcement circles where police sometimes believe they are somehow exempt from the laws they are supposed to enforce. Instead of being brushed under the table, there needs to be an example for others here. Those in uniform ought to be held to a higher standard than the average person. I don't understand why there is even a debate about it.
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tmoney
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11-24-09 8:26 AM
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If this is any decision for the mayor then maybe a new mayor is needed as well. c'mon man...three convictions. Its a no brainer phil.
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Firestarter
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11-24-09 8:21 AM
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Bend over Barry. Now you're gonna find out exactly how you made all those poor young women feel like when you pulled them over and conducted your "traffic stop" and all the non-sense that went on afterwards. Dojack's next. Get in the unemployment line fellas. Maybe Wal-Mart needs some security help for the Christmas season. ho ho ho
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dyg6732
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11-24-09 8:19 AM
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The next step should be avoiding a civil lawsuit. Phil Wallace should publicly apologize to the victim for his police chief's behavior.
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valley148
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11-24-09 7:59 AM
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I wish Mr. Carpenter well in the Big House!
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Wondering
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11-24-09 7:37 AM
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I think the next step is to find a new police chief.
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