Who Controls the City Marshal?

A dramatic episode has erupted on social media regarding an invitation to the Sandy Oaks City Marshal, Jesse Gutierrez.  The invitation was sent by Catherine Rendahl, who helped organize the Good Neighbors group, and invited Gutierrez to come speak to the group.

The people upset about the invitation include Gutierrez’ wife Heather Leal, Alderman Micki Ball, and BJ Gillespie.  The 3 women were upset about 2 things in particular, the way the Marshal was contacted and the fact he was contacted at all.

The way in which the Marshal was contacted

Catherine Rendahl sent an invitation to Gutierrez at the city’s official postal address.  According to Rendahl, the City Clerk, Charlotte Rabe, told her the letter was never received.  So Rendahl sent a 2nd letter via certified mail.

When the topic of contacting the Marshal was brought up, Alderman Micki Ball attacked Rendahl, saying “inviting by way of certified mail (twice) seems less than neighborly.”

Certified mail isn’t vulgar, rude, insulting, or sinister.  It’s mail.  Something that has been around for centuries.  Rendahl was simply extending an invitation and an opportunity.

Bj Gillespie also attacked Rendahl for the fact she used a piece of paper in an envelope.  She also outlined how people should contact the Marshal, which is be contacting his wife through social media accounts.

The fact the Marshal was contacted

The real issue that upset the 3 women is obviously not the way in which Rendahl contacted the Marshal.  It’s the fact that she ever even attempted it in the first place.

Here is a copy of Rendahl’s letter:

Jesse Gutierrez
City Marshal
City of Sandy Oaks

Mr. Gutierrez,

I’d like to invite you to speak to our Good Neighbor’s group about a couple of issues people are expressing interest in.  How can we protect our own properties and look out for our neighbors without being intrusive?  What are our options if an issue doesn’t rise to the level of calling 911?  What can we do as individuals to make your job of protecting us easier?  I’m sure you have a number of topics worth speaking about as well.

I know how excited the community is to have a Marshal, and this could be a good opportunity for you as well, to introduce yourself and give us some insight in how you feel things should be done.  I understand that we have location issues currently, but I am willing to hold this meeting in my living room.  It can hold a bit over 30 people comfortably, and could go up to about 40 if some of the kiddos would be willing to sit on the floor.  We can crank the air conditioning down, and have cold water available, maybe even some light snacks.

This could be done at your convenience, as anytime in August would be good for me.  I’d just need some time to re-arrange furniture etc.  Please let me know if this seems to be something you would like to do.  Thanks.

So Rendahl invited the new Marshal to speak to a group of people.  No big deal.

Heather Leal, however, acted as if her husband was being attacked.  Her original post on a social website that started the attacks on Rendahl was this:

Alderman Micki Ball followed up with the following

Who controls the Marshal?

Rendahl has organized the most successful neighborhood/community group in the last 5 years.  She did so by setting up signs, inviting people, and most importantly, by allowing people to have the opportunity to express their wants and desires.  Her goal is to build a stronger community by getting people more involved.

She didn’t take to social media to attack anyone and she didn’t demand Gutierrez’ presence to put him on trial.  She simply sent the man an invitation to come talk to the largest group of people that have ever gathered repeatedly in the last year.

Both Leal and Ball stated that there would be no need for the Marshal to answer the invitation.  Leal stated the topics that Rendahl suggested had “already been discussed before” by a County Sheriff’s Deputy at a City Council meeting.  Ball said the following:

The Only Volunteer?

Leal said her husband was the only one who stepped up to volunteer for the position.

But that’s not exactly true.  Micki Ball INVITED Gutierrez to apply for the position.  Other than changing the position from an elected office to an employee position, the City Council never bothered with the issue of having a City Marshal before they approved Gutierrez.  They never set the position up, invited anyone to sign up, or sent out notifications that they were looking for a Marshal.  Ball, however, happens to live just a few houses away from Gutierrez.