City leaders quiet about Columbia police chief’s leave
City officials are keeping quiet about the reason Columbia police chief Ken Burton was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday.
City spokesman Steve Sapp said in a news release that “Effective immediately Police Chief Ken Burton is on paid administrative leave. During this time period, Deputy Chief Jill Schlude will be Acting Police Chief.”
Sapp gave no details on the reason for the leave, citing legal protection of personnel records. Burton does not have a contract. According to Sapp, the position of police chief is unclassified, and the only position that does have a contract is city manager.
The city code of ordinances allows the city manager to suspend any employee “when such action becomes necessary for the good of the service.” The ordinance, passed in 2013, requires an “immediate report” be handed over to “the director” for review of the decision.
The Columbia Police Officers’ Association said it does not believe Burton was contributing to the day-to-day operations of the department, and those responsibilities had already fallen on Schlude. The association said the department’s day-to-day operations will not be affected by the transition.
CPOA director Dale Roberts wrote in an emailed statement that CPD officers were informed Thursday morning of Burton’s leave via an email from interim city manager John Glascock.
Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas wrote in an email that he supports Glascock’s decision.
“In this case, Interim City Manager John Glascock has placed Chief Burton on paid
administrative leave, and I support his decision,” Thomas said.
ABC 17 News was unable to reach Burton for comment.
Mayor Brian Treece, when asked for a comment on Burton being placed on leave, said “John Glascock is a strong leader with high expectations.”
Several city council members and city officials either declined to comment, did not respond to requests for comment or referred questions to Sapp.
Burton has been a target for critics for several years over a variety of issues, including a recent police department move to reorganize its Community Outreach Unit. Calls for Burton’s resignation renewed after Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes resigned last month in the aftermath of the outreach unit news.
In 2016, Burton’s lawyer told the Columbia City Council that he would entertain buyout offers after criticism over data showing blacks are pulled over and searched at a disproportionate number in Columbia.
Burton said last month that he was not considering leaving his post.
The advocacy group Race Matters, Friends, has been at the heart of much of the criticism of Burton. Group member Tracy Wilson-Kleekamp said Thursday that she hopes Burton will follow Matthes’ lead and resign.
“It’s time for Columbia to stop being teenagers on a joy ride. This is an old town but I think our leadership over time has been very male-dominated and stuck in their ways,” Wilson-Kleekamp said.
It wasn’t clear Thursday whether Burton’s leave portended his eventual firing or resignation. State law protects police chiefs in their jobs, requiring local officials to show “just cause” as defined in state statute for the firing. State statute also requires local governments to give chiefs a hearing at which “charges” are presented and the chief is present. Two-thirds of the governing council must vote for the removal.
Look for more on this developing story.
