BLOUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) -- The Blountsville police chief is on paid leave pending a disciplinary due process hearing.
Chief Shane Best’s attorneys claim the town is retaliating against him. Best was given a letter on Jan. 7 which said Blountsville intended to lay him off because of the financial condition of the town. A week later, the town council changed its position saying Best was on leave pending a disciplinary due process hearing.
Best's attorneys say they have no idea why the town council in Blountsville has changed the reason for his paid leave.
“We don’t know where that came from it feels sort of like a retaliation,” remarked Attorney Leroy Maxwell.
Best received this letter on Jan. 7 stating he was being placed on leave because of the financial condition of the town they were eliminating the police chief position. In response, Best's attorneys contacted Blountsville saying he is owed $16,000 for retirement benefits, paid time off, and compensation for physical labor. They also told the town he was willing to settle for $13,000 if certain conditions were met.
CBS 42 asked council member Ray Baxley about the request from Best’s attorney.
“I can not comment on that and that is for legal reasons,” responded Baxley.
During an emergency meeting Tuesday night, the reason for Best's leave changed to pending a disciplinary due process hearing.
“Just based on new information that came into us, new evidence we uncovered so that’s the reason that we changed that,” said Baxley.
Baxley could not provide details on what the evidence was or what the hearing is about.
“I believe this is just a scare tactic to get him to resign without the compensation he deserves. I’m not going to stand for that, the citizens of Blountsville are not going to stand for that, and chief Best is not going to stand for that,” added Maxwell.
The town council is set to meet next on Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m.
“The only possible thing that could happen at that meeting is the assistant chief will be appointed as the interim chief,” commented Baxley.
A date for chief Best's disciplinary due process hearing has not yet been set councilmen Baxley says the city attorney is working to do so.