Related Coverage

Morningside Councilwoman Regina Foster, speaking publicly for the first time since she was accused of abusing her authority as the town's police clerk, proclaimed her innocence during Tuesday night's town meeting.

"I have followed all the laws of the state, [Prince George's County] and town," she said, speaking before a packed room of about 50 residents and business owners.

Foster was fired Friday from her position as police clerk after a Maryland State Police investigation discovered evidence Foster might have inappropriately voided traffic tickets from the town's Red Light Camera Enforcement Program, according to Morningside Police Chief Eugene C. Mills Jr. Foster was suspended as police clerk in October when the investigation began, but has retained her council seat.

Foster also accused Mills during the meeting of initiating the state police investigation in retaliation for decisions she made as a council member that were "against him," although she did not specify further. She called his decision to investigate and fire her "vindictive and retaliating" and also alleged she had been asked to resign her council seat in exchange for the case being dropped, but did not specify who made that offer.

Mills, who spoke about the situation before Foster made her statement, told residents he initiated the investigation because he "found some discrepancies" in the red light camera program. Mills could not say whose tickets were deleted or how many tickets are in question, but said there were at least two tickets voided and that all the tickets combined totaled less than $1,000. Speaking after the meeting, Mills said there was no basis to Foster's claims of retaliation.

"When it all comes out, people will realize [the accusations are] all false," he said.

Emotions ran high at the unusually crowded meeting, with several residents and business owners calling for Foster to step down. The Prince George's County state's attorney's office opted not to prosecute after reviewing the case, according to office spokesman Ramon Korionoff, but he added the case had been sent for review by the Maryland state prosecutor.

Former town clerk Elizabeth Long, who lives in town, told the council she did not think Foster should hold her seat as councilwoman as long as the investigation is ongoing. Speaking after the meeting, Long said she thought Foster had done a good job in some respects, such as planning recreational events for the town, but did not think it was appropriate for her to continue serving.

"I think we need a new, fresh start," she said.

Charles Thompson Jr. — who does not live in town but spoke on behalf of his father, Charles Thompson Sr., a Morningside resident — praised Mills and said he would not stand idly by if any effort was made to remove him as police chief.

"He's doing a job you hired him to do. Let him do his job," Thompson said. In a reference to former police Chief David Allan Eichelberger, who pleaded guilty Feb. 12 and completed a 60-day jail sentence for stealing and selling a gun that was town property, he added, "Y'all finally got a chief who is not crooked."

Mills has declined to say when he first contacted Maryland State Police about the red light camera program. Maryland State Police officials have deferred questions on the investigation to the Morningside Police Department.

According to Mayor Karen Rooker, the town has had a red light camera enforcement program for more than eight years. The two cameras are located on Allentown Road near the off-ramp to Interstate 95. Rooker declined to say how much money the program generates for the town annually, but did say it was less than $150,000.

She has declined to comment on the case.

When Mills was hired in January, he said he had an open discussion with Foster about how to handle her dual role as his employee and as a member of the legislative body that oversees his department. He said he thought they had a good relationship at first, but it turned sour when he initiated the investigation into the camera program.

Foster has declined to discuss the case beyond her statement at the meeting, but said she had no plans to resign.

"I was elected to do a job and I have to see it through. Good, bad, ugly," she said. Foster has served as police department clerk since around 2001 and as a council member since 2007.

Foster did say in her statement she had filed a grievance against Mills with the mayor and other council members on Dec. 16, one day before she was fired; Mills said he never saw the letter and that the timing was coincidental.

Councilman Terry Foster, who also is Regina Foster's husband, has declined to discuss the case.  But when asked to respond to comments made during the meeting, he did note several individuals who spoke against his wife were not residents of the town. 

Resident Susan Mullins, who attended but did not speak during the meeting, said after that she thought Regina Foster has "been treated poorly" and she did not believe the allegations of misconduct.

"I don't think she done anything wrong," Mullins said.

Vice Mayor James Ealey said because both Mills and Foster will continue to serve together, at least until the next town election in May, he anticipates a rough next few months. He also has declined to discuss the case in depth but said there was a "personality clash" between Mills and Foster and that they had butted heads in the past.

"Morningside is in good hands. We are not corrupt," he said. But, he added, "Between now and May, it's going to be tenuous."

ztillman@gazette.net

Staff writer Andrew Waite contributed to this report.