By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
GRANBY, Mo. — City officials say they hope their new police chief will restore stability to a department that has seen turmoil in recent months.
Scott Whitman, who started as a patrolman with Granby and then served as the city’s police chief from 1993 to 1995, was unanimously hired Monday by the Granby Board of Aldermen. The city has been without a permanent chief since the firing of Gail Bass in late June.
Whitman, 39, worked for the Newton County Sheriff’s Department from 1995 until 2006, leaving as a lieutenant. He has since worked with his father at Whitman’s Trailer Sales in Neosho.
Whitman, a Granby resident for almost 20 years and former member of the East Newton School Board, said he was encouraged to apply for the Granby post by family members and friends. He also was intrigued, he said, by the opportunity to return to law enforcement.
“I think deep down that’s what I am and what I always have been,” he said of being a police officer.
Whitman was selected from 10 applicants for the post, based on his experience, his record in Granby and a recommendation from Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland, according to Barry Flint, chairman of Granby’s Police Personnel Board.
Mayor Paul Ferguson said Whitman “probably possessed the most qualifications of all the candidates.” He starts his duties next week.
“He (Whitman) brought stability back to it before, and I think he can do it again,” the mayor said.
Whitman said he could not comment on what happened with Bass because he did not know the specifics.
He said he thinks his time in the community, including time coaching youth sports and helping to organize the annual Old Mining Town Days festival, will help in his new job.
“All I care about is right here, right now and moving forward,” he said.
Only weeks ago, the city’s aldermen narrowly defeated a motion to reinstate Bass.
Bass alleges that the board fired him without cause on June 23 and without affording him an opportunity to defend himself. He alleges that he was fired after intervening on behalf of one of his officers, Whitney Dodson, who alleges that she was being harassed by Alderman Jeremy Hopper.
Hopper previously declined to comment on the allegation. He did not return a phone message Wednesday.
Ferguson said Dodson’s allegation remains under investigation. He she has never presented any evidence to back her claims.
Ferguson has declined to discuss the reasons for firing Bass, except to say they had nothing to do with Dodson’s allegation.
A letter to Bass from Ferguson and later released by Bass’ attorney cited multiple reasons for the former chief’s ouster, including: insubordination to Ferguson after a name-calling incident; leaving shifts uncovered despite an increase in the number of hours worked by local officers; allowing officers to be insubordinate and show up late for work; and allowing officers to respond to a call outside the city’s jurisdiction on May 8.
Bass disputes those allegations.
Asked again Wednesday about his plans, Bass said he thinks he will file a lawsuit at some point alleging wrongful termination.
“It’s in the works,” he said.
Asked about Whitman’s selection as chief, Bass said: “I wish him luck. He’ll need it.”
By the numbers
The Granby police chief’s position pays about $30,000 a year. The Board of Aldermen earlier this year raised the salary from $25,000 to $30,000 to make the position’s pay competitive with that of other area departments.
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