Fired central Missouri police chief suing to get reinstated

STURGEON, Mo. -- A fired central Missouri police chief is suing to get his job back.

The Columbia Daily Tribune said Greg Halderman's Boone County lawsuit asks for a judge's review of the March 27 decision by Sturgeon's governing board to oust him.

Sturgeon administrators said Halderman was removed because of alcohol abuse, inappropriate comments to a female and verbal abuse of three suspects in jail.

Halderman has admitted to responding to a call and going to interrogate suspects at the jail after drinking alcohol, but he said he had only one beer.

He said he was fired for refusing to do a background check on a black mayoral candidate.

Sturgeon's city attorney said the city will defend any challenge of Halderman's ouster.