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Apr 14 2010

SLED investigating missing equipment, bulletproof vest in Ehrhardt

Weeks after appointing an interim police chief and conducting the first police department inventory in years, Ehrhardt has asked State Law Enforcement Division investigators to figure out what happened to a bulletproof vest.

Interim chief, Jamie Bearden, who joined the department in 2006 said he sent SLED the request to investigate after an inventory showed evidence and police equipment missing from the department. Bearden started the inventory after former chief Jim Preacher resigned in January. The inventory is mandated by state law anytime a new chief takes over a department, Bearden said.

Bearden found four guns missing from the department's evidence locker along with the Ehrhardt Police Department Chief's badge, multiple flashlights, several pairs of handcuffs, two sets of leg shackles, and the bulletproof vest. The vest was purchased through a federal grant from $650 to $700, according to Bearden.

Much of the property was recovered, except one gun, Bearden said. Preacher told Bearden the vest went missing during an August 2009 festival when the former chief let another officer borrow it to work the festival, Bearden said. Preacher never filed a report concerning the vest, according to Bearden. Along with the request to investigate, Bearden also sent SLED the serial number for the vest.

Since taking over the department, Bearden installed new locks to the evidence room and requires two officer signatures on all evidence logged into and out of the locker. Periodic inventory schedules have also been implemented.

Preacher resigned from the department two hours after being sworn in as Norway's mayor in January. An opinion from Attorney General Henry McMaster informed Preacher he was in violation of the "dual office holding" statute by holding the chief's post and the mayor's office.

Preacher asked for his job back at the last council meeting, but council voted against giving Preacher his job back, according to town councilman and police commissioner, Bill Edinger. "There's no chance he'll get the job here," Edinger said Monday.

Edinger said the town is operating with two full time officers, with plans to hire a part time officer within the next several days. A permanent chief will be hired on sometime in July, according to Edinger.
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