CHETOPA — The Chetopa City Council on Thursday accepted a proposal from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office to conduct patrols starting later this month after three Chetopa police officers, including the chief, resigned.
The three officers, Chief Scott Feagan and officers Travis Rakestraw and Alexis Scofield, have taken open positions with the sheriff’s office, two on patrol and one in the jail. The resignations result from what Scofield described as a hostile work environment.
The resignations will leave only one officer on staff, Jason Wammack. The council last week named Wammack interim police chief, and the council also decided to advertise the openings.
In written correspondence, Sheriff Darren Eichinger asked the council to release Scofield from her two-year obligation with the city and to allow the three officers to leave with their body armor, as these items are custom fitted. Scofield had worked with the police department for eight months but had a contract to work two years.
Chetopa Mayor Bob Boyd claimed the sheriff’s office was holding the city hostage by hiring the three officers. However, Eichinger told the
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Sun that the three ovcers ap plied for openings that he had in his department.
On Thursday, the council had a special meeting called by Council members Justin Nading, Linda Seaman and Brenda Dominguez. Eichinger attended, as did Undersheriff Greg Haraughty and County Commissioner Vince Schibi and Wammack. The council and the visitors met in closed session to discuss security information related to patrol in Chetopa.
After the session, the council voted to accept Eichinger’s patrol proposal without a public discussion of what was in the proposal. A council member then read the bullet points of the proposal after a citizen attending the meeting asked.
The city agreed to release Scofield from her contract and allow the three ovcers to keep their body armor.
While the city is working toward hiring new ovcers, the sheriu's ovce will ouer to pa trol the city free of charge for two months starting when the three ovcers have left.
After two months, if city has not filled positions, Eichinger will continue patrol for a fee. This patrol arrangement would last no more than six months.
The cost for this patrol will be $5,880 per shift. Eichinger also said he was willing to work with the new police chief.
