CHARLES PATTERSON'S CASE IS MOVING THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
THERE ARE TWO CENTRAL ARGUMENTS TO BE RESOLVED IN PATTERSON'S APPEAL. THE FIRST ONE IS WHETHER THE FORMER CHIEF HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DEPLOY UNMANNED POLICE VEHICLES AT A FAIR AT THE GREENVILLE MALL IN ORDER TO CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF A POLICE PRESENCE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE BEING SO DEPLOYED BY SWORN POLICE OFFICERS WORKING AT THE FAIR AS PRIVATE SECURITY. THE SECOND AREA IS DID THE VICE MAYOR, THEN KENNETH L. GINES, HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER THE CHIEF NOT TO DEPLOY THE CITY-OWNED VEHICLES WHEN THE PURPOSE FOR SUCH USE WAS TO PREVENT CRIME. PATTERSON'S ATTORNEY EDWARD BLACKMON ARGUES THAT PATTERSON HAD THE RIGHT TO PARK THE UNMANNED VEHICLES AT THE FAIR AND PARKING THE VEHICLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERRING CRIME IS LEGITIMATE POLICE WORK. ALSO THEN VICE MAYOR KENNETH L. GINES, INTRUSION INTO THE DAY-TO- DAY OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ILLEGAL. CITY ATTORNEY ANDY ALEXANDER SAYS STATE LAW PROHIBITS CITIES FROM USING PUBLIC-USE CARS AT PRIVATE SECURITY JOBS, AND THAT PATTERSON WAS SUSPENDED WHEN HE TOLD THE OFFICERS TO BRING THE POLICE VEHICLES TO THE FAIR.