FAST FACTS:
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Jericho, Arkansas 9/21/2009) Jericho Arkansas' Police Department has been on the hot seat.
Residents are complaining about speed traps and traffic tickets.
Monday the Police Chief defended his department.
"I think we did an outstanding job patrolling the city, patrolling the highway, what police do." says Jericho Police Chief Willie J. Frazier.
But he did not talk about a police officer, in court for a traffic case, allegedly shooting the town's Fire Chief.
"I was shot in the back, through the pelvis, ruptured my femer bone." says Jericho Fire Chief Don Payne.
He spent weeks in the hospital.
We are told it started with an altercation in traffic court, words were exchanged and then a struggle.
"This is real. It ain't fake. I wish it could happen to someone else, because I don't deserve it." says Payne.
Nobody is talking about the case, since a lawsuit is likely
But Thursday Fire Chief Payne was fired. He says it was over his behavior in court.
That reportedly led other firefighters to quit.
We asked the Mayor what about fire protection for the town.
"We working on it. About them being protected, we are working on it." says Jericho Mayor Helen Adams.
The Mayor praises the police department and the Police Chief says they are still on the job.
"Officers are still making patrol. We still protecting the citizens of Jericho. We are still functioning going forward." says Chief Frazier.
We are told the police department could also consider its own 'assault' lawsuit since the Fire Chief may have struggled with officers.
It makes it more likely all of this will end up in court.
- Jericho town leaders speak out on turmoil in the town
- Jericho's Fire Chief shot in the back allegedly by police during a court hearing
- Jericho's Police Chief says his force is still on the job, terminated Fire Chief considers lawsuit
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Jericho, Arkansas 9/21/2009) Jericho Arkansas' Police Department has been on the hot seat.
Residents are complaining about speed traps and traffic tickets.
Monday the Police Chief defended his department.
"I think we did an outstanding job patrolling the city, patrolling the highway, what police do." says Jericho Police Chief Willie J. Frazier.
But he did not talk about a police officer, in court for a traffic case, allegedly shooting the town's Fire Chief.
"I was shot in the back, through the pelvis, ruptured my femer bone." says Jericho Fire Chief Don Payne.
He spent weeks in the hospital.
We are told it started with an altercation in traffic court, words were exchanged and then a struggle.
"This is real. It ain't fake. I wish it could happen to someone else, because I don't deserve it." says Payne.
Nobody is talking about the case, since a lawsuit is likely
But Thursday Fire Chief Payne was fired. He says it was over his behavior in court.
That reportedly led other firefighters to quit.
We asked the Mayor what about fire protection for the town.
"We working on it. About them being protected, we are working on it." says Jericho Mayor Helen Adams.
The Mayor praises the police department and the Police Chief says they are still on the job.
"Officers are still making patrol. We still protecting the citizens of Jericho. We are still functioning going forward." says Chief Frazier.
We are told the police department could also consider its own 'assault' lawsuit since the Fire Chief may have struggled with officers.
It makes it more likely all of this will end up in court.
