Published: November 05, 2009 10:10 am      

St. Elmo police chief fired

ST. ELMO — After 16 years of serving the city, St. Elmo’s police chief was shocked when he received notice Wednesday he was terminated effective immediately — and he doesn’t know why.

Police Chief Ken Thomason was given a letter, written and signed by Mayor Larry Tish, stating he was terminated upon its receipt.

The letter states “it is my opinion that the interests of the municipality demand your removal as chief of police.”

The letter further states Thomason is not to undertake any duties as police chief or any other law-enforcement or administrative police duties on behalf of the city.

Tish does not give any reason in the letter for the termination, only that he will report the reasons for the removal to aldermen at a special meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 12.

Tish refers to an Illinois Municipal Code that gives him the authority to remove any officer appointed by the mayor, which in St. Elmo includes the chief of police, “whenever the mayor or president is of the opinion that the interests of the municipality demand removal.”

However, the code also indicates Thomason could be restored to his position if two-thirds of the council disapprove of the removal.

Thomason said he was given no reason for the termination when he was handed the letter, but said he will be talking with his own attorney and reviewing his options.

The termination comes on the heels of a dispute between the police chief and mayor during the city council meeting Monday. Thomason was upset that the mayor testified for the defendant during a court proceeding regarding an ordinance violation issued by Thomason. That violation was overturned by the judge because the ordinance was deemed to vague.

Thomason said he is currently on vacation until “things settle down,” adding he has a lot of vacation time built up.

Alderman Theresa Riley also was surprised when Thomason brought her the letter. She is chairwoman of public safety, which oversees the police department, and had not seen the letter before then.

“I think if one of my guys gets fired, it should be through me,” she said, adding nothing had been brought to her about the termination.

Riley also does not know why Thomason was terminated.

“He’s not giving reasons to anybody,” she said.

Alderman Mike McCall who was present when Tish gave Thomason the letter said there will be a hearing at the Nov. 12 meeting for the chief to attend at which time the mayor will give reasons for the termination after which the council will have the opportunity to vote on whether to overturn Tish’s decision. And, McCall is unsure how the council will vote.

“It depends on what both (Thomason and Tish) present at the hearing,” he said.

Alderman Chris Worman was not surprised by the termination.

“There’s been a lot of issues,” he said, adding he did not want to elaborate at this time.

Alderman Jayson Porter, who also served as acting mayor prior to Tish being elected, sees no reason why Thomason should be terminated.

“I feel like the police chief is just doing his job,” he said.

Porter asserts the council makes personnel decisions, not the mayor.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not terminated until it goes through the board,” he said.

While Porter has not seen the letter, he believes the mayor is overstepping his boundaries.

“It’s like having a dictatorship,” he said.

Tish did not return a phone call by the Effingham Daily News Wednesday.

Cathy Thoele can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 126 or cathy.thoele@effinghamdailynews.com.