It’s been a long, tough year in the relationship between Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan and Police Chief Patrick LaSalle. The year is nearly over. The difficulties between LaSalle and Grogan show no sign of ending. The latest incident came at the Dec. 5 city council meeting, at which LaSalle made an emotional public apology to two officers whom Grogan had fired. They are Assistant Chief Gary Stephenson and Narcotics Agent Kirby Madison. Grogan wouldn’t comment on the reason for the termination, citing personnel privacy. “And I want everybody to know that I stand with those men, and I will stand with those men until their ...