Local News
St. Elmo police chief fired
ST. ELMO — After 16 years of serving the city, St. Elmo’s police chief was shocked when he received notice Wednesday he was terminated effective immediately — and he doesn’t know why.
Police Chief Ken Thomason was given a letter, written and signed by Mayor Larry Tish, stating he was terminated upon its receipt.
The letter states “it is my opinion that the interests of the municipality demand your removal as chief of police.”
The letter further states Thomason is not to undertake any duties as police chief or any other law-enforcement or administrative police duties on behalf of the city.
Tish does not give any reason in the letter for the termination, only that he will report the reasons for the removal to aldermen at a special meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 12.
Tish refers to an Illinois Municipal Code that gives him the authority to remove any officer appointed by the mayor, which in St. Elmo includes the chief of police, “whenever the mayor or president is of the opinion that the interests of the municipality demand removal.”
However, the code also indicates Thomason could be restored to his position if two-thirds of the council disapprove of the removal.
Thomason said he was given no reason for the termination when he was handed the letter, but said he will be talking with his own attorney and reviewing his options.
The termination comes on the heels of a dispute between the police chief and mayor during the city council meeting Monday. Thomason was upset that the mayor testified for the defendant during a court proceeding regarding an ordinance violation issued by Thomason. That violation was overturned by the judge because the ordinance was deemed to vague.
Thomason said he is currently on vacation until “things settle down,” adding he has a lot of vacation time built up.
Alderman Theresa Riley also was surprised when Thomason brought her the letter. She is chairwoman of public safety, which oversees the police department, and had not seen the letter before then.
“I think if one of my guys gets fired, it should be through me,” she said, adding nothing had been brought to her about the termination.
Riley also does not know why Thomason was terminated.
“He’s not giving reasons to anybody,” she said.
Alderman Mike McCall who was present when Tish gave Thomason the letter said there will be a hearing at the Nov. 12 meeting for the chief to attend at which time the mayor will give reasons for the termination after which the council will have the opportunity to vote on whether to overturn Tish’s decision. And, McCall is unsure how the council will vote.
“It depends on what both (Thomason and Tish) present at the hearing,” he said.
Alderman Chris Worman was not surprised by the termination.
“There’s been a lot of issues,” he said, adding he did not want to elaborate at this time.
Alderman Jayson Porter, who also served as acting mayor prior to Tish being elected, sees no reason why Thomason should be terminated.
“I feel like the police chief is just doing his job,” he said.
Porter asserts the council makes personnel decisions, not the mayor.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not terminated until it goes through the board,” he said.
While Porter has not seen the letter, he believes the mayor is overstepping his boundaries.
“It’s like having a dictatorship,” he said.
Tish did not return a phone call by the Effingham Daily News Wednesday.
Cathy Thoele can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 126 or cathy.thoele@effinghamdailynews.com.
- Local News
-
-
A dream come true
The Early Learning Center in Effingham has two new additions to its playground this year, and it’s not shiny new slides or colorful jungle gyms.
-
T-town village donates to school programs
Teutopolis hasn’t had a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for more than a decade, but the village still had a fund for donations that had been made to the program.
-
Alcohol sales stir up extra revenue
Since voters allowed liquor sales in Farina earlier this year, village officials and store owners have noticed a change — and it’s positive.
-
Police release 'person of interest' sketch in Schmitt murder investigation
Effingham police released a sketch Tuesday of a "person of interest" in the June murder of Effingham resident Jack Schmitt.
-
Elderly couple escapes burning house thanks to neighbor
An elderly Shumway couple was able to escape a house fire unharmed Sunday night thanks to a neighbor who alerted the fire department and came to the aid of the husband and wife.
-
Giving Back
In many ways, Autumn Worton is like many other 21-year-old women.
-
Making a Difference
Mack Myers of Kinmundy has lived with a hereditary neurological disorder his entire life, and he credits the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for helping him cope with the disorder that’s affected him since 1947.
-
Area unemployment inches higher
Unemployment rates increased in nearly every area county last month, according to monthly statistics released this week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
-
Local historians want to preserve, relocate bowstring bridge
The old Flensburg bridge is a rare glimpse into days gone by, though the modern-day resident has to use some imagination to see the bridge’s historical significance.
-
Drug checkpoint questionable
Motorists traveling southbound on Interstate 57 near Kinmundy Tuesday morning drove through a drug interdiction checkpoint — the first-ever in Marion County — even though the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a dim view of similar efforts.
- More Local News Headlines
-
