Midland City without police chief
Jay Hare /
Keith Rinehardt, shown here in a file photo, is no longer chief of police in Midland City.
The Midland City Police Department has one less officer working the streets after the police chief was relieved of his duties Tuesday.
Bob Brogden, an Ozark attorney who represents the town of Midland City, said Keith Rinehardt resigned as police chief after he refused to follow an order handed down by Mayor Virgil Skipper and the town council.
Tom Brantley, who represents Rinehardt, said his client did not quit and plans to contest how he lost his job.
“He was accused of using his police vehicle for personal use by going to work another security job at BamaJam,” said Brantley, who represents Rinehardt through the Police Benevolent Association. “It was not a resignation. It was a termination.”
Rinehardt said Midland City hired him as police chief in November 2008. He previously worked as a K-9 officer for the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.
Brogden said Rinehardt resigned after he refused to follow an order by Mayor Virgil Skipper to change the unmarked vehicle he drove as police chief to look like a patrol car. Brogden said for some reason Rinehardt said he would not mark his car, and quit.
“He resigned, and they’re not going to let him come back,” Brogden said. “He just got all irate and mad and told the mayor he would not drive a marked unit.
The mayor told him we don’t need you on foot patrol. If you want to quit you can turn in your badge and gun.”
Brogden said Rinehardt turned his badge in to the mayor, but refused to turn his gun in. Rinehardt said he later turned his gun in to Lt. Keith Walker. Brogden said there is no acting or interim police chief, but Walker will handle the duties of police chief.
Brogden said it’s unclear why the town council wanted the chief’s car marked, but he said they voted for it to be marked.
“You can’t sit there and tell the city council you’re not going to do something,” Brogden said. “We don’t need the chief of police riding around in an undercover car.”
Don Parker, a member of the Midland City town council, said Tuesday afternoon he was not aware the police chief’s position had changed until an Eagle reporter called him. Parker said the council met Tuesday night, and did not discuss anything about the police chief’s position.
Parker, who formerly served as mayor, said if Rinehardt was fired he has six days to file a grievance with the town, which would be heard before the council.
“I thought everything was fine with Rinehardt,” Parker said.
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Reader Reactions
Correction on the last comment I made. I meant to type your family instead of his family. Your family was and are personal friends with the Parkers. And also I could single you out and put where you work, but I will show more respect for you than that. It doesnt matter if he is or not there now. You need to sit at your desk and do what our tax dollars pay for and not playing on the computer. Maybe you boss needs to monitor you more often! And I own this computer and on my off day,NOTED!
This is for dalectygirl. How would you like for someboby to single you out, and put where you work on this comment page. I know he is no longer there, also did you tell that you were friends with the his boss and went to school with the sheriff? Also, the comment you posted on Parkers issue, why didnt you tell that Parker and his family were personal friends. Thats why you sided for him. Your mother babysitted their child till it got old enough. Talking about “good ole boy”. And you cant talk about what others do, like I said you are sitting on a goverment computer doing what your rule book says you cant do. On our tax dollars!
This is for dalectygirl! First thing, you need to tell the truth about that day. You had no divorce decree at that time! Your EX still had rights to that house. You where mad because that day,it didnt go your way. Deputy Rinehardt was a professional that day. Your mom was trying to take the child out of town so his father could not see him. He had to stop you several times because of your mouth. It like to have got you in jail. And second you are sitting on a goverment computer doing these comments on our tax dollars. Just check the time and day. That hole comment you posted was not the truth. Maybe deputy Rinehardt needs to go to more family disputes. Then maybe the man will have somes rights. When you comment on something make sure you are telling the truth. I dont know deputy Rinehardts situation, but all I can say he was professional that day.
I encountered Officer Reindhart when he was with the Dale County Sheriff’s Office. He was the biggest JERK I have ever dealt with! He was arrogant, rude and down right MEAN! (This situation had nothing to do with a speeding ticket, this concerned my ex-husband trying to leave with my son, who I had custody of!) Reindhart stood in MY yard and told my ex that he could break in my back door to gain entry, because his NAME was still on the property! (Even though the divorce decree awarded the property to me!) This man does not have a professional bone in his body! As far as I’m concerned the Town of Midland City is better off without him!
And for those of you that want to know…I DID file a complaint with the Sheriff the NEXT DAY! I was happy when Reindhart left the Sheriff’s Office to go to Midland City.
This situation proves to me that he is STILL arrogant and rude. Apparently he has a problem with authority, too. He is the KING of the “good ole boy” nation!
And I’m sure some of you will respond to this by saying “you don’t KNOW him”; to this, I say to you…I have only dealt with this man once in my life, and once was more than enough! I, in no way, fealt that he “protected” my son and I! When he left my property I fealt terrified and violated.
The citizens of Midland City should be thankful this man is gone, just pray that he stays away!
citizen, in response to your post addressed to me…He does do things “by the book”... I cannot blame Rinehardt for refusing to do the Mayor’s demands b/c he is no a patrol officer. Most officer that drive unmarked vehicles are Supervisors, Investigators and Police Chiefs. B/c they do not patrol. They still can patrol and it’s very unlikely unless there are going somewhere and they come across a speeder, etc. Then most likely they will pull them over. The Mayor may be his Boss and they sometimes make stupid demands and possibly some that break the law. I have seen more people(including a friend of mine) get off of their tickets b/c they were a friend of the Mayor and the Judge. My friend got off of a DUI charge.
Stuff like this is what Rinehardt is trying to prevent. Rinehardt refuses the Mayor demands b/c some of them not listed are breaking the law. He won’t do them b/c his Job is to obey and enforce the Laws of Alabama. So that is first on his list. I’ve worked with Rinehardt for the past 3 years and he has told me a lot of things including, “This city and the police department has a bad reputation but I am going to do everything I can to change this.“ He was starting by changing some of the stuff around the P.D., etc. Everytime he tried to do something the Mayor would deny him. I personally believe that the P.D. should be separated from the Mayor and Council unless there is the need to spend money and then approval…other than that the Mayor and Council should stay out of it b/c 99% of them have never worked in Law Enforcement and don’t understand what we all go through on a day to day basis. Just b/c he refused to do what the Mayor wanted b/c he is NOT a patrol officer does not mean he is not doing his job. He job is to uphold the Code of Alabama and enforce the Laws of Alabama. He mainly deals with paperwork in the office but when he does drive around and comes upon a vehicle breaking the law he pulls them over because he has a duty to Alabama to enforce the laws. When he got out of the Academy he took an oath to do so. There is another view as well…Rinehardt is one that looks at what the city says and tries to help out when possible…The city say they are broke and if the citizens see that they had the money to mark a car they get upset/disappointed b/c they know their money is going to something like that when there is better things to spend that money on.
I understand your concern as I have kids myself. Sometimes it may seem like a passing vehicle is going faster that is truly is, but unlessyou have a radar with which to accurately measure the velocity of the vehicle, your pretty much out of luck making your case. Not that I’m saying you don’t have a case because maybe you do. But instead of complaining about it on a message board, go to the council meetings, request priveleges of the floor and make your concerns heard. Now, looking at it from another point of view, emergency vehicles often times respond to calls in a “non’emergent” mode especially police officers as not to “alert” any potiential suspects of their impending presence. In reality it doesn’t matter if it’s MCPD, DPD, AST, DCSO or even HCSO, then general public is going to gripe and complain about law enforcement. Plain and simple. The public continously wants to complain and moan about police this, and police that, but when the very ones who are doing the most complaining…need the police, everything changes. People anyone can gripe and moan, but instead of complaining and moaning, take the initative to make changes. Start at the bottom and work your way to the top. It’s that simple.
You what to know what bugs me about MC PD? When they are speeding going well way over 100 MPH on my road & they are either at Subway or just chillin at 231. That is what annoys me. I have children and if they happen to run in the street or anything, there is NO way the MC PD could slow down enough for them or anyone not to be hit. This is what should be on the front page of the Dothan Eagle. Nothing happens in MC especially for that nonsense.
By “talking to people” is how rumors get started. Investigate the facts for yourself. Talk to the imdividuals directly involved in this incident, talk to the Chief, talk to the Mayor and then form a logical conclusion as to what happened. As for the “speed traps” that catch these “poor defenseless college students” who never do anything wrong comment. As a current student at Wallace, I will say this. I don’t worry about the Midland City Police Department as much as I do the WCC Police Department. WCC Police issue more tickets than both Midland City and Napier Field together. Secondly it was also mentioned about Midtown Aparatments. Midtown aparatments is so heavily patroled because of the on-going drug problem in that area. Don’t believe me, look around for yourself. The point is this, the mayor overstepped his bounds, plain and simple. The Chief doesn’t answer to the mayor, he answers to the council. Seems strange that even Council-member Don Parker wasn’t aware of what had occured. Virgil Skipper doesn’t like ANYONE who opposes his power. If you will remember shortly after Virgil Skipper was sworn in as Mayor, Chief Dexter Hammond was termninated as was replaced by Keith Reindhart. Ever since he was appointed or hired as Chief he has driven an “unmarked vehicle”...so I ask this…WHY NOW? Why now is he being told to change his vehicle to a marked unit? It makes no sense whatsoever?
And before anyone comments, I know that the 2nd reason I stated has to do with wearing a seatbelt, but underlying that is a need to obey speed limits.
No, you do not have the RIGHT to say anything you please. There are laws that do limit that PRIVILEGE for slander and indecent vocabulary usage in public. I hope verbal abuse by spouses/parents will soon join the ranks.
The comment about the police officers saying they wished all of the cars were unmarked because being in a marked car automatically makes them targets is relative to what I INITIALLY said. As for following the orders of his boss, the boss told him to do something that puts him in danger. I don’t blame him for saying no. BTW, would you follow the proverbial crowd over the cliff????
Also, my husband’s uncle was a former mayor of Newton, so I have an idea of what goes on there. AND, I do drive in and around Wallace Community College, and I have seen nothing to indicate a speed trap. If you speed and get a ticket, it is YOUR fault. Thank God we have our police and deputies enforcing the laws. As for the State Troopers, I (embarrassingly) admit I was speeding a couple of times and was stopped by a state trooper both times (much time in between stops). Both troopers were gentlemen. We even chatted for a few moments…after giving me warnings. Did I deserve the warnings? Yes. I deserved more. I was speeding. Have I slowed down? Yes. Why have I slowed down? 1) I took the warnings to heart. 2) I saw a television commercial of a state trooper where all he said was, “I never had to unbuckle a dead man from a wrecked vehicle.“
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