CRESTLINE — Less than a week after a video showing Crestline Mayor Allen Moore using racial slurs during a conversation with Police Chief Joe Butler was released to the public, Crestline Village Council members have requested that the mayor resign from his position.

The letter is addressed to the residents of Crestline by the council and is dated Oct. 5.

It reads:

Along with you, we are saddened by the negative light and attention that has been brought on our community over the past couple of weeks since the release of the video of Mayor Moore in which he made numerous racially-insensitive and inappropriate references to minorities. The fact that the recording was made without his knowledge and consent does not excuse the sentiments that were expressed or the words that were said.

Crestline operates as a statutory village under the Ohio Revised Code. It is our position that, while we do not have the authority to remove the mayor from office, we do have the ability and the duty to what is morally and ethically proper. We appreciate Mayor Moore’s willingness to serve as a council member, council president pro-tempore, and appointed mayor. However, his previously-released letter of apology is not enough. We cannot condone the words that were used by the mayor regardless of the context, setting, or manner in which the video recording may have been made. The citizens of Crestline deserve better. We respectfully request that Mayor Moore allow our community to begin the healing process by resigning immediately from the office of Village of Crestline Mayor.

Yours in public service:

Kevin Eckert, Council-at-Large

Allen Laferty, Council-at-Large

Joy Miley, Council-at-Large

Bev Payne, Council-at-Large

Eugene M. Toy, Council-at-Large

Mike Weisman, Council-at-Large

During an hour-long conversation that was recorded by Butler in Moore’s garage area of his residence, Moore reportedly used the “N-word” four times. The first time he refers to not N*****-rigging in his construction. Later in the video Moore is speaking about riots that happened in Crestline in 1972.

(Editor’s note: The following video may contain material upsetting to some viewers.)

More than 20 Crestline residents came to the village council meeting Oct. 1 to also request the mayor resign his position immediately.

Crestline resident LeAnn Walker-Williams spoke on behalf of a group of residents and said she was disgusted by the racial slurs used by Moore.

“I believe when you are elected mayor or any public office, you have a duty to the citizens,” Walker-Williams said. “I believe you are to treat all of the citizens in a fair, honest and respectful manner.”

Walker-Williams said she does not think Moore’s actions uphold his duty to be fair, impartial and loyal to the residents of Crestline.

“I believe you tried to conceal the evidence the police chief had on you,” Walker-Williams said. “I believe you are self-serving by putting him on administrative leave and not informing the public of what was going on. I believe that as mayor, and city council, you need to ensure that there is transparency in the local government and that was not displayed in your actions before the comments or after.”

She said the citizens were not properly informed of the situation of why Butler was put on administrative leave. The police chief has been on administrative leave since Aug. 31 with no explanation for residents being issued.

Walker-Williams said she commends the village council for doing what is right.

“However, I believe they are doing damage control. We already started the petition. We gathered on Saturday at Hamilton Park, getting the petition out. The petition will be circulating for the next two weeks. We plan to submit the petition at the next Council meeting,” Walker-Williams said.

Walker-Williams said Moore is not putting Crestline first.

“Instead of finding ways to bring this community together by bringing businesses, industries, resources and suitable infrastructure to the community, he continues to put his own self-interest ahead of the community,” Walker-Williams said. “We, as citizens, will continue to build our community starting with finding public officials who put the community first.”

The mayor could not be reached for comment.