SCOTT CITY POLICE BOARD RULES IN FAVOR OF CHIEF

SCOTT CITY -- The Police Personnel Board in Scott City found no merit to eight of 11 allegations of misconduct brought against Police Chief David Beck, and recommended no disciplinary action be taken against Beck.

In a written report given to city officials Wednesday, the board listed its findings as to each allegation and concluded that in three instances, Beck's actions were "inappropriate."

Eight of the allegations were filed with the board in December, and three more were filed Monday by Joy Venable, a former dispatcher with the department.

Beck said Wednesday he would make no comment concerning the board's findings.

Venable's attorney, Jim Pinkston of Sikeston, said Wednesday night he had not yet seen the board's findings and therefore would not comment. Venable's home telephone went unanswered Wednesday night.

The board's findings stated that "a number of actions, or lack thereof by Chief Beck, may have resulted from undue influence by person or persons outside the department.

"Given this involvement it becomes easy to see why we are experiencing these types of problems and/or why Chief David Beck is hampered in supervising the department as required."

The statement was signed by four members of the board.

Venable was given a 120-day suspension by the board Dec. 20. She resigned from the department Wednesday, said Mayor Shirley Young.

Young released a copy of the allegations and the board's findings to a Missourian reporter. Young said Beck and members of the Police Personnel Board had given their consent to release the report.

"This is meant to put an end to rumors and provide facts," she said.

Young said she feels the findings of the police board are fair.

In two separate complaints filed with the city by Pinkston, 11 allegations against Beck were listed, including:

He "harassed" female members of the police department by not allowing them to go out on an emergency call out of uniform or without a weapon, but allowed male officers to do so. The board concluded that, based on testimony heard at two separate hearings, no testimony was heard "that would lend support" to that allegation.

Beck called supervisory meetings "at all times of the night."

The board found that although meetings were held at night, "Venable at no other time voiced her displeasure of the meeting time."

She alleged that Beck allowed reserve officers "to carry loaded weapons for which they had not been qualified or trained for the use of in a crowd control situation."

Board findings said: "It is the opinion of this board that to allow a `non-certified' reserve officer to carry a loaded weapon was an unwise decision on the part of Chief David Beck."

The board found "no basis" of the allegations that Beck:

Allowed reserve officers to carry unloaded firearms.

Failed to conduct a criminal investigation concerning $160 stolen from a drug informant.

Misappropriated office supplies.

Failed to properly train supervisors.

Failed to keep the police department properly qualified in using the breathalyzer machine.

Breached the confidence of the department by talking with people outside the department about department matters.

On a charge that Beck had misappropriated employee funds for payments made for handcuffs, the board found that "the practice of holding personal checks as collateral in the event handcuffs were not returned to the department to be totally inappropriate."

Venable also charged that Beck failed to conduct an internal investigation within a reasonable amount of time after she complained to him that some money and her badge had been taken "within the police building."

The board stated that, according to Beck's testimony, after Venable informed him of the thefts, he asked her to fill out a complaint form.

"When Ms. Venable failed to do this, Chief Beck said, in his opinion, the matter was dropped," the findings stated. But the board added that "this is not correct procedure" for such matters.

Besides the thefts of Venable's money and badge, some city funds and department-owned equipment were taken. City sources have confirmed the thefts, and said that the officer responsible had resigned before disciplinary action could be taken.

Five officers have resigned from the department in the past eight months.