Clerk who balked at blacks is fired

The Fort Myers city clerk who reportedly told a group of black leaders requesting public documents to "kiss my ass" has been fired.

Former NAACP President Willie Battle, who filed a complaint with the city after the June 16 incident, said the comment and the attitude it reveals point to the need for what the group of Dunbar leaders has been pushing for — a citizen review board to deal with police brutality allegations.

"I think it shows why there's a need for a citizen review board," said Battle. "Apparently they need one at city hall too."

Battle said it's a good thing Deputy City Clerk Denise Yingling doesn't carry a gun and a nightstick.

"We'd have been beat up," he said.

Battle, James Muwakkil and Anthony Thomas, of Citizens for a Better Fort Myers were at the Fort Myers city hall June 16 to review copies of complaints against Fort Myers police. Thomas says — and has complained to the Florida Attorney General — that the clerk's office had stonewalled him for weeks until he sent copies of his records requests to the media and city council members.

Thomas says the group saw but a few files, and he later complained to city attorney Grant Alley. Only then did the clerk's office show him more files. He says he should have been shown all files immediately.

"What they did was illegal," he said. "What she said was unprofessional."

The group went to city hall with TV cameras in tow, one of which caught Yingling, a two-year city employee, mocking Thomas behind his back. Her comment was not recorded. Yingling also called the police, which Thomas described as an effort to intimidate the group.

"She totally tried to bully us and bully the media," he said.

Fort Myers city officials couldn't be reached for comment late Monday afternoon on Yingling's firing.

Battle said the attitude shows a lack of respect at city hall for blacks.

"Let's go back from the '60s," he said.