SCOTT CITY HIRES TWO PART-TIME POLICEMEN

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council approved the hiring of two part-time police officers Thursday to fill the vacancies of three officers who left the department earlier in the week.

Officers Brian Clubb and David Wall will be paid $7.50 per hour to work part-time with the Scott City Police Department. Following the special meeting Thursday, the two were being outfitted for uniforms.

Both are full-time police officers in Ste. Genevieve.

"The officers will work down here on their off time from Ste. Genevieve," said Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan. "I have also talked to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Scott County Sheriff's Department, who have both agreed to help Scott City in any way they can."

Scott City was left with only two patrol officers and the police chief after Lt. Bobby Wooten was fired Tuesday, for reasons the mayor would not disclose. After Wooten's termination, officers Eric Shafer and John Blakely turned in letters of resignation. A part-time dispatcher, Jeff Skelton, also resigned.

All but three council members voted in favor of hiring the part-time help. Forhan said the department has received several applications from people interested in being hired as police officers for Scott City.

"We're covering our backs," said Forhan. "We're not going to let things get out of hand."

But as the council met in closed session, several protesters gathered outside City Hall. The group, carrying signs accusing the mayor of several unlawful acts, called for Forhan's resignation.

Richard Brawley, toting a bull horn and a giant sign calling for Wooten's reinstatement with the department, said he came to City Hall Thursday because he was "fed up with the injustice in this city.

"I'm sick of the council and the mayor riding the police department like they do," said Brawley. "Every time they turn around, the (police officers) are being harassed by the city council. It's got to stop."

Brawley and the rest of the protesters came into an open meeting of the city's police committee following the special meeting of the city council. Forhan was in the room at the time.

Tempers flared and accusations flew, causing police committee chairman John Rogers to adjourn the meeting. Rogers asked Scott City Police Chief Rob Elledge and other officers to clear the council chambers.

"I will not make any comments to these false accusations," said Forhan. "I am not going to step down as mayor. I was elected for a four-year term, and I intend to serve all four years."