Shots in the library

Mike Doellman was the Library Director for several years. He enjoyed guns and had set up a deal where the supervisors would go out to a local gun range and practice shooting. He felt it would be a good bonding opportunity for us and eventually wanted to challenge some of the police officers, for fun. He said we were not required to do this. Initially we went to his house where he showed us some safety things. Several of us purchased guns. I went to the shooting range the first time and it was okay. However, I had a strong feeling that I needed to get out! I didn't know if I would be hurt or if someone else might be hurt by me, but Mike gave me a bit of a hard time when I told him I didn't want to go again. I told him I had made it a matter of prayer and reminded him he said it wasn't mandatory and he finally gave me the job of scoring the targets when they came back. Somehow a famous cartoonist found out about us. I'm including a copy of his cartoon.

One day in the spring of 2010 I heard what sounded like a gunshot coming from the office at the library. I don't know why I didn't call the police - I've thought many times about the risk I took. Stefanie was in my office. I can't believe I went toward the danger. I guess I thought I could be wrong, maybe something big fell. Amy thought someone dropped something in the entrance. Anyway, I was pretty sure it was a gunshot and I told Stefanie to stay in the office and went to investigate.

It was a gunshot alright. There was a hole in the wall in Mike's office. He claimed it must have come in the window, but there was no hole in the glass and no he didn't want me to call the police. No one called the police. They tried to cover it up. We weren't supposed to talk about it. Mike told several different stories. I still have no idea why he had brought a loaded pistol to the library.

Apparently he had purchased a new gun and was showing it to a supervisor when it discharged. The bullet went into the wall and hit some electrical wires. Of course, the supervisor who was with him was very upset, she could have been shot! and Mike was at times denying he had even fired the gun. He had the custodian hurry and repair the wall and wiring and gave some weird story about the bullet being an old one that had been in the wall for a long time. 

Someone told the Library Board Chairperson, but it was a while before the Mayor even found out. The whole thing was just wrong. After a few days someone from the Board asked me what I thought should be done and I said I thought Mike should be put on Administrative Leave with pay while they decided what to do. That's what they did. I have no idea if they were asking other employees what they thought. 

Sometime in all of this, someone's family member called the news.

Staff members were afraid to have Mike in the building and wanted him banned, which is eventually what happened.

A few days before this all happened I had thought he was acting funny and talked with him in his office. I told him I wondered if he was feeling all right. He told me everyone has a little post-traumatic stress disorder sometimes. He didn't explain that, though. Afterwards, his wife told me he couldn't remember everything that really happened. I'm not sure what to think,  He certainly seemed to be determined to cover up the whole thing at the time.

I recently found this email that I sent to my family on 3/14/2010:
I'm not sure if Heather let you know or not, but I'm having a rough time with my depression and to top that off things are really stressful at work. I'm seeing a counselor and a psychiatrist (to help find a medicine that might help). To make a long story short, my boss accidentally fired a gun into the wall of his office. One staff member, Ann was with him. She was maybe 18 inches from where the bullet went off. Mike had been showing her how you could take the gun apart. The barrell as empy, but one shell that he missed seeing  was inside the gun. 
 
I was the first to arrive in his office, he claimed the shot came out from the wall. Mike and Ann both said they couldn't figure out how it happened. Electricians were called to fix the wiring in the wall. The library was closed for two days so the staff wouldn't need to interact with Mike. Several weeks prior to this I had asked Mike if he was alright, because he wasn't his usual self. He told me he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and was getting help.
 
Mike lied about the firing of the gun, wouldn't let us call the police, after a couple of days Ann wrote what she "really" saw happen. Of course the shot was from his gun. This happened maybe 6 weeks ago. Mike can't come in the building without a Board Member, the locks have been re-keyed. We've discovered things he said were done and weren't. We're only supposed to talk with family members until the Board decides what to do. My guess is they will have Mike retire. We aren't allowed to speak with him. As far as I know, he says he can't remember what happened. The Board (which happens to have 2 lawyers included) plan to release their decision next Tuesday evening.
 
Because the staff are like one big family, this has rocked our world. I'm in counseling. I'm told I have post traumatic stress. I've missed about ten days of work. Hopefully, I will be feeling better in a few weeks, but now I also have a sore throat, headache, cough, etc.
 
I'll try to let you know more next week. However, for now, I'm not really checking my email. Just resting at home. If you want to talk with someone about this, please call Heather or Roger.
 
Kristine (I'll be fine.)

Idaho State Journal Editorial

The final chapter on the Marshall Public Library Director mess is near its end. Mike Doellman officially retired Wednesday afternoon after five weeks of suspense as to how the story would conclude.

We have a partial answer in this Whodunit. Library employees have confirmed Doellman did indeed fire off a gun in the library. But the story does not and should not end there.

This matter has been handled poorly by the library board. Certainly, none of the board members ever thought they would be thrust into such a surreal story. They have been mindful of their obligation as fiduciaries of the library to not expose the institution to possible suit by relating matters tied to personnel matters.

But taking five weeks to come to a conclusion after getting information that the director shot off a gun in the library during business hours? Come on.

The board has, in the very least, obfuscated about what occurred, referring to an incident involving a starter pistol in a drill Doellman conducted in December, knowing that the real story involved a real weapon. They were given ample opportunity to correct this misperception that they themselves caused, and did not do so.

For the chairwoman to claim her earlier remarks were “misunderstood” seems disingenuous.
Had it not been for members of the public pressing for real answers, local citizens — the people who financially support the institution — might never have known what happened.

If Doellman had simply stepped up and related what really occurred, this matter might have been put to rest a month ago. He might still be director today, perhaps a bit chastened for his boneheadedness. And he would have saved his staff a great deal of stress and fret as this matter was slowly unwound.

The city attorney determined that no investigation can be initiated if no criminal act occurred. But the taxpayers who support this fine institution should not be left with a cliffhanger ending. They deserve to know the details.

Mayor Brian Blad was also left out of the loop as to what occurred, much to his frustration. He has hinted that the terms of library board members — whom he appoints — may not be renewed.

While the library might be described as a quasi-governmental entity at best, it is still a repository of more than books. It is a holder of public trust. The board’s actions have harmed that trust, which is no small matter.

The board told library staff after the retirement announcement Wednesday that they could finally talk about the issues, being mindful of Doellman’s continuing privacy rights regarding his employment. That’s a step in the right direction. But more should be forthcoming, and it shouldn’t be the responsibility of an already put-upon library staff to provide it.

The complete story of what occurred should be pursued by the city. Everybody deserves to know all of the plot line before this story ends.

http://www.pocatelloshops.com/new_blogs/politics/?p=6021