By Dustin Shipman

dshipman@joplinglobe.com

SARCOXIE, Mo. — Jerry Clayton, Sarcoxie police chief for the past three years, on Friday said he might appeal his firing earlier this week.

Clayton, who had been employed with the Sarcoxie police force for a total of six years, said that Mayor Don Triplett on Monday night had told him of four complaints from local residents about Clayton in October having gone to a tavern called T and T’s All Jacked Up, located at 2582 High St., just outside of the city limits of Sarcoxie.

He said Triplett said the residents complained that Clayton had made an inappropriate remark to a girl at the tavern. Clayton said the allegation was not true.

“He also said that there could be some issues with the evidence locker, but it was clean, and I don’t understand what he meant by that,” Clayton said.

Clayton said he did occasionally go to the tavern on Friday nights.

“I like to sing,” Clayton said. “Once in a great while I would go up there and sing. I would just go up there because I like to sing, and they have karaoke on Friday nights.”

Triplett said he was under the impression that Clayton had orally given his resignation Monday night, and a special closed session meeting was held the following night as a result.

“After we had concluded the closed session we went back into open session and made the announcement that the council had unanimously accepted his resignation, and members of the audience said that he had not resigned,” Triplett said. “He then showed up and said that he had not resigned, and I talked to him after the council meeting.”

Clayton said he was then given the choice by Triplett to submit his resignation by 5 p.m. on Wednesday or be fired. He said he told the mayor the next afternoon that he would not resign, and that Triplett fired him.

Triplett said he could not go into detail about the firing because it was a personnel issue, but that town officials are now seeking a new police chief.

“With scarce resources, we have to kind of prioritize what our mission will be,” Triplett said. “I would like to hire a police chief that shares that vision and can help us realize it.”

Clayton said he has contacted a lawyer and will be attending the next City Council meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, to hear public opinion on the matter before going forward.