Midland City without police chief

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.