Municipal Judge Dye resigns spot on bench

Troy Municipal Judge Allen Dye has resigned, possibly creating another bout of turmoil for Troy’s justice system.

Dye submitted his letter of resignation Monday, Dec. 31, citing Troy’s financial woes as a major reason.

A former police officer in San Jose, Calif., Dye mentioned he might look at a position with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, but had yet to decide on a course of action.

His last day as Troy’s judge will be Jan. 31, leaving February for his replacement. If Troy cannot hire a new judge by that time, his clerk, Terrie Lenhart, is more than capable of replacing him, Dye said.

In his letter of resignation, Dye elaborates on his reason to leave the position.

“I have observed the city and heard the cries of financial despair through the past years,” he wrote. “I have seen the leaders of this city attempt to cut expenditures through community services, employee expenses and training.”

He continued with how it affected him personally.

“With this in mind, I have watched the cases in the court continue to dwindle in number and though I realize the court’s business is not a cash-flow agenda, I cannot help but view the lack of incoming cases as a lack of revenue and a larger burden of overhead the city must endure.”

The lack of cases to prosecute is attributed to several developments in 2012, first and foremost being the several months without a city attorney. 

No city attorney meant no prosecution for already ticketed/charged people, so several months of work was lost in the interim. Dye is confident in new City Attorney Heather McDougall (coincidentally Troy’s former replacement judge) and her ability to prosecute.

Another recent development was the resignation of Troy police officer Nathan White, bringing Troy’s Police Department down to two men and spreading the already limited resources very thin.

Dye offered his help to Chief of Police Bob McLeod, if he desired it.

“He alluded to it, and he does have a lot of experience,” McLeod said. “We’re training two new officers. I think everyone is going to be just fine.”

When asked whether he had left because of some political rumblings, Dye shrugged it off.

“I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” he said. “The current mayor, the former mayor, the current City Council, the former City Council, they’ve given me everything.”

However, he did hear some happenings in the council chambers.

“There was tension there, but I stayed out of it,” Dye said. “I do my job and get paid and leave me alone. I have no complaints.”