Turmoil Grows in Forest Heights

Beck's critics paint a vastly different picture of her personality and tactics. They say she's an authoritarian with a controlling and explosive nature.

"At times, she was confrontational and temperamental," Eubank said. "I could be talking to her and all of a sudden she'd just blow up at me. She frequently would get closer than your personal safety zone would allow. It was an attempt of intimidation."

Eubank accuses Beck of slamming a door on Lt. William Waithe in a disagreement over mail delivery. Since Eubank's firing, Beck has changed the locks of the police department, located inside the town hall, employees said. She has promoted a 25-year-old officer with three years' experience to be the temporary commanding officer of the force.

Now, she will have to deal with a town mutiny of sorts.

Opponents say they are gathering a petition to remove her from office. Myles Spires Jr., a council member and opponent of Beck's, said yesterday that the town's charter allows a mayor to fire a police chief but not appoint herself to replace him. Nor can the mayor promote and demote officers, he said.

"It's a direct conflict of interest," said Spires, adding that the violation is grounds for Beck's dismissal.

He said the council has written a letter to State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) asking him to prosecute the "violation of the charter." Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for Ivey's office, said Friday that the office had not seen the letter and could not comment.

Ivey has recused his office from prosecuting the assault charges against Beck because he knows Beck and Eubank. Calvert County would handle the cases, Korionoff said.

Council members have instructed their attorney to ask the Circuit Court to relieve Beck of her duties and temporarily bar her from the town hall, Spires said.

"The residents have flooded our phones, they've just lost their minds over this, asking what are we going to do to stop this," Spires said.

For many residents, the turmoil has lowered morale in a town that once seemed bursting with it.

"It cuts straight to the heart. To think we can't get along for the best interests of the town," council member Alice Hoskins said, shaking her head as she stepped into her car at town hall. "If the leaders can't agree and get along, what can we do?"

In front of her, a green banner hung from a telephone pole, similar to others that dot the town. It reads: "Forest Heights. One Community. Many Cultures."

"I've got to go home and do some praying," Hoskins said with a sigh.

Staff writers Allison Klein and Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report.