CHAFFEE POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS

CHAFFEE -- Police Chief James Haney resigned Monday night at the Chaffee City Council meeting and former chief of police Jerry Bledsoe was at his old post Tuesday until a replacement can be found.

Haney had only been police chief in Chaffee since March when Bledsoe left after four years in the job to take a position as a deputy with the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Chaffee Mayor Bill Cannon would only confirm that Haney had resigned and would not give a reason why. At least three of the four members of the City Council's police commission, Mert Mirly, Sally Wehmeyer and Jack Burnett, were absent from Monday night's meeting. The fourth, Gene Cummins, could not be reached for comment.

Wehmeyer said she was surprised by Haney's resignation.

"I'm not sure what all the workings were that led up to this," she said. "There are always disagreements between the board and the police chief, but I didn't think there were any big problems."

Council member Jerry Wolsey said the resignation was a complete surprise.

"He just walked up, put his badge down in front of the mayor and said we didn't need him anymore. He then did an about-face and walked out," Wolsey said. "It was unexpected; we had no idea it was going to happen."

Wolsey said the council works closely with the police department.

"We support our police department, you bet we do," he said. "All of the councilmen have bent over backward for the police department."

The council's next step will be to call for applications and attempt to appoint a new chief as quickly as possible.

Burnett, chairman of the police commission, declined to comment on Haney's resignation as did council members Mirly, John Hampton and Tom Cunningham.

Haney said only that the council "pushed all the right buttons" Monday night.

"This is something that's been working up for a while now," he said. "So now I'm going to sit back, relax and look around a little bit."

In an open letter sent to the Southeast Missourian, Haney said he was proud to be the chief of police in Chaffee.

"I will always reflect back to this time and the good people here in this city," he wrote. "While I held this position I enforced the law fairly, impartially and without bias, and required my subordinates to do the same."

"I will not go into the reason for my leaving," the letter continued. "However, I will say that there were a few citizens at the council meeting and the truth should be know, if it is sought out."