Dexter aldermen say no to hiring new police officer

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Board of Aldermen rejected the recommendation of its police committee and voted not to hire a new police officer.

In a rather unique move, the board voted 2-4 against hiring a candidate recommended by the committee.

Committee chairman Butch Waldrup presented to the board the application of Jeff Mitchell, 31, of Malden, Mo., for an opening on the local police force.

"He comes highly recommended," Waldrup said. "Nothing negative came up on him in the whole search process. It is the recommendation of the committee to get the police back up to full strength. This is one of the best applicants that I've seen in the entire time I've been here."

Police Chief Ken Rinehart reported that Mitchell has been an officer with the Malden Police Department for eight years, is a native of Southeast Missouri and comes with the recommendation of the Dunklin County prosecuting attorney's office, the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Malden police chief.

"He did well on all the tests -- he rose to the top," Rinehart said.

However, several aldermen voiced concern in light of events that have transpired in the department in the last several months.

In July, police officer Robert Kennedy was forced to resign after being arrested on statutory rape and other sexual misconduct charges. In addition, allegations and rumors have continued to surface over the operation in the local police force. At one point, Rinehart offered to resign, but the board rejected the idea.