After a 60-minute executive session, the Russellville City Council unanimously voted to suspend a police officer for 14 days pending an internal investigation.
Officer Brett Evans' suspension was effective immediately after the motion was made by councilman Arthur Elliott, seconded by Gary Cummings and approved by the mayor and council. The motion called for Evans to be suspended 14 working days “pending an investigation,” according to minutes of the November 6th meeting.
Chief Chris Hargett, who was out of town on police business Monday evening, said he learned of the suspension Monday night.
“With a pending investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to make any statement or discuss any allegations,” Hargett said.
While Elliott's motion did not outline the specifics of the incident that led to the suspension, he did say it was initiated by local residents.
“I can't say anything at the moment since it's an ongoing thing,” Elliott said. “It came from the public. That's where all this started from—from citizens coming to me.”
The matter was discussed in a lengthy executive session, which is closed to the public.
“It will be up to the police department to investigate,” Elliott said. “We felt it was serious enough for all of us after hearing some information and it was a unanimous vote.”
Russellville Mayor David Grissom said the investigation would be handled within the police department and declined to offer specific allegations.
“It's not appropriate to comment. We need to let the investigation run its course. We don't yet know if the allegations are warranted and out of an abundance of caution it will be investigated,” Grissom said.
Grissom said Evans' suspension would be with pay.
According to the RPD's website, Evans is a patrol officer who earned the department's physical fitness awards in 2015 and 2016, and the Good Conduct Award in 2015.
In other action, the council:
--approved a proposal for engineering services with Civil Group for a 48' x 10” community storm shelter at the John Blackwell Sports Complex at a cost of $5,200 for engineering services.
--approved and authorized the submission of the Foster Grandparent Program grant application for 2018 and approved the city's local match in the amount of $3975.68 based on the current number of foster grandparent volunteers.
--voted to ask Brad Williams with North Alabama Council of Local Governments to look into the city's downtown grant to see if there are any restrictions from making a traffic safety improvement at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Limestone Street. Councilman David Palmer said he had received a citizen complaint about limited visibility for traffic attempting to cross Jackson on Limestone.
--approved waiver of the rental fee for use of the A.W. Todd Centre by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce on December 2nd and by the Russellville High School volleyball team on November 16th.
--asked the city attorney to research whether three additional spots could be added to the Russellville Industrial Development Board, with each being filled by a board member on the Russellville Electric Board, Russellville Gas Board and Russellville Water and Sewer Board.
