Perryville police chief takes voluntary leave during probe

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- City leaders have opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct by Perryville police chief Keith Tarrillion, but they are staying silent about the allegations.

A member of the Perryville Police Department made a claim this month alleging conduct by Tarrillion "inconsistent with his official character and duty," according to a city news release. The city is interviewing members of the department, and Tarrillion has taken a voluntary leave of absence. Tarrillion is cooperating with the investigation, city officials said.

The release directed all questions to city attorney Thomas Ludwig, who declined to provide any details Wednesday about the nature of the complaint. He expects the investigation could be complete by Monday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which could be involved if there were a criminal element to the investigation, is not investigating, Ludwig said.

"There's been nothing that would qualify this for the highway patrol's investigative parameters," Ludwig said. The look into the complaint is being handled by an independent investigator hired by the city, he said.

Ludwig said Tarrillion's leave of absence was a result of a meeting between himself and the chief. "It's a request I made until we can get our investigation completed," Ludwig said.

Ludwig said he would not speculate about whether any civil litigation could filed in connection with the complaint.

"We have to see at this point what comes out of the investigation," he said.

No other elected officials or police department employees have taken leave or been asked to do so as a result of the complaint, Ludwig said.

Lt. Direk Hunt has been asked to oversee operations in Tarrillion's absence.

Tarrillion joined the department in 1993 after an incident in which he was injured after being shot by a man while investigating a report of property damage as a Perry County Sheriff's Department deputy. He worked his way up in the ranks until being elected chief in 2002. Tarrillion was last elected to a four-year term in April 2010 when he ran unopposed.

Tarrillion on Wednesday said via email that he "elected to take a leave of absence from my duties to allow an independent review of my department's handling of personnel issues." He also wrote, "I welcome this review, because it will show that no wrongdoing has occurred.

"At the conclusion of this review, I will return to my duties as your elected city marshal. I have served the city and its residents in a professional and effective manner during my 10 years as chief, and I look forward to serving you in the days and years to come.

His statement continued, "In the meantime, the citizens of Perryville can be assured that their police department will continue to serve them in the same professional, courteous and efficient manner as always. This personnel matter should not cast a shadow on the honorable men and women who wear our uniform. They are proud to serve our community, and we can all be proud of them."

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf described Tarrillion as "willing to work with just about anybody."

"We just cleared up a number of burglaries in the county here, and a number of them in town, and we invited their guys down when we found there were some taking place in town, and they all just worked great together," Schaaf said.

Prince Hudson, the only member of Perryville's board of aldermen reached by phone Wednesday, referred all questions to Ludwig. Mayor Debbie Gahan, who, according to city hall staff, is out of town, could not be reached for comment.

Perryville's ordinances on suspension or removal of elected officers proclaim the mayor is empowered to suspend any officer for several causes, including "any conduct inconsistent with his official character and duty."

If an elected officer were to be suspended, a hearing before the board of alderman would be held; members would consider the charge[s] and pass judgment. A two-thirds vote by the board's members, followed by a resolution, could remove an elected official from office.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

120 N. Jackson St., Perryville, MO