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
Kick the mayor off the Midland City council and vote for the new mayor of Newland City! This time make it a woman :D
I think Newton and Midland City should merger into Newland City :D Ideas!!! Ideas!!!
To rulistening and realitychick:
First of all I have never had a ticket anything. I talk to people and read the newspaper. Maybe you should try it sometime, it’s really amazing what you can learn if you shut your mouth and open your mind. I do not live in Midland City, I do however live in Newton. Which is why my children went to Dale County High. My husband and I both work, so as far as I am concerned my taxes paid for my children’s education. Since I work and pay taxes, I can comment on anything that is directly affected by my taxes, i/e police departments. Seems to me that you are protesting way too much which to means you have both been caught by the highly regarded police force of Midland City. Talk to the college students, they know what I am talking about when I mentioned police waiting in the shadows. Talk to the residents Midtown apartments, they also know what I am talking about. The police haunt these 2 places as well as others lying in wait to falsely issue tickets in order to increase the bottom line of the accounts for the city. Like you stated rulistening, this is a free country. If you don’t like what I have to say, DON’T READ IT. My husband served in the military for over 22 years, that gives me the right to say what I want. Gives you to the same right, so enjoy it.
If the chief was told by the Mayor, who is the boss, to use a marked car, then that is what should be done. A police officer, whether he is the chief or not, should not have the authority to decide that he can do whatever he wants, regardless of what his boss tells him to do. For all of you posting that a police officer shouldn’t have a marked car - please explain to me WHY NOT a marked car. These people are hired as police officers, therefore, they should dress like a police officer and IF they drive a police car, it should look like a police car. Now, for some of you others who have posted comments. Please, in the future if you are going to post, SPELL YOUR WORDS CORRECTLY AND USE THE WORD IN THE PROPER CONTEXT. Just because you live in the backwoods of Midland City doesn’t mean you have to advertise it everytime you open your mouth and speak. If you are going to claim to be highly educated, then you might want to consult with someone before you start posting comments. Your spelling and grammer are worse than that of my 7 year old grand chiild. Also, if as you say, you graduated from Dale County High, and the local colleges, your writing skills are not a good reflection on the education that was bought and paid for.
We could go on and on about good cop bad cop, too many tickets or not enough tickets but that really isn’t what the article is about. The bottom line is his boss, the Mayor, made a request and he refused. For that reason alone he should be fired.
According to the Code of Alabama, 1975 Title 32-5A I can find no such law that states that a police vehicle has to be “marked” or otherwise visible. After speaking with a HCSO deputy concerning this issue, he stated :If it were up to me and every other officer, we’d all be in unmarked cars”. His reason, is because driving a marked vehicle is doing nothing more than making yourself a target for violence. As I stated in my original post, for as long as I can remember, every chief in Midland City has driven an “unmarked” vehicle. It’s common place now for senior officers and investigators to drive “unmarked” vehicles. The only vehicles that should be marked are those utilitized for everyday patrol, and last time I looked, all the MCPD patrol units were clearly marked with the word “POLICE”. As for speeding, if you don’t like getting tickets, then slow down. When it comes to writing tickets if you only knew how much of that ticket went to the State Troopers retirement. If I am not mistaken, for every ticket written, the issuing town or municipality keeps an average of $5 to $7 of the fine. The rest goes back to the state. Why do you think that Troopers almost ALWAYS issue tickets…even for the most trivial infraction.
to poster michaelthins
If you would read my previous posting you will then get YOUR facts straight. As you will read the part to you which had your name above it - repeated your posting with yours words followed by DUH? Nothing was said of your posting otherwise. Check your facts. If you want to gloat about where you are what you have done. Go for it I couldn’t less. Have a nice day.
Rustelin,
When you make comments make sure you have the facts right or at least try too! First, I have no children due to an injury, so no one helped pay taxes to send my children to school. Second, I have known many Midland city Police Chiefs, Mr. Gullege, Partin, Metcalf, Baxter etc. I have worked sisde by side with them as a firefighter and an EMT or in other capacities.
My thought is and I cannot change the law is simply this a town or city, cities limit should end the jurisidiction of a police department. Now You tell me where in my statement I downed any town, because I didn’t facts and case history is not belittling any municipality. As for tax be assurred i may pay more in taxes than you do every year yet I do not complain about. Fact is I usually stand up that schools should be public and supported by taxes and those that wish to send there children to private school good for them. I have a nephew who attends a special needs school I purchased two buses for them how many did you pruchase?
I was not trying to down the former Police Chief or any one my statement is merely if the Mayor and yes i know Virgil Skipper and all the town council in one way or another is that if they want the Chief or any one else to ride in a marked car it is not the Chiefs say so but his bosses.
Now Rustelin, the next time you go off half cocked make sure you back your statements or at least try to because i do. If I am wrong then I will come back and set the record straight.
You are right it is a free country and I live where I want and say things with truth when i want. I don’t need some one like you telling me to move out. I moved to Midland City in 1965 with my family, attended the old Midland city El and grauated with honors from Dale County high and Wallace college then attnded Troy State.
Next time you accuse me of something or make off remarks you have proof because I take to heart slander and liable.
rulistening? Do you have some experience as a police officer?
To the poster MaryJ and Michaelthins
MaryJ
In case you don’t remember this is a free country. If you’re so unhappy with small towns and their municipalities, police, schools, etc. THEN MOVE. You blasted Midland City, you blasted Dale County High and other small towns. Yet you stayed, allowed other taxpayers help educate your kids and it seems all you can do is whine. You sound like a spoiled brat and want to have things your own way.
Have I gotten tickets? Yes, two of them, one on 134 the other one on 231. Was I speeding? Yes. Was I wrong? Yes. Did I pay my tickets? Yes. Did it slow me down? Yes. Do I pay a lot more attention now? Yes. Oh by the way, it was by Alabama State Troopers doing their job not small town police. And yes I have lived in small towns, even Dothan and major cities as well.
Michaelthins
You stated that .... police sit just outside the city limits in their jurisdiction and STOP SPEEDERS ... DUH!
The law is still the law. I say get over it or MOVE on.
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