Ashland police chief placed on administrative leave

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ashland’s chief of police has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a Monday press release from City Administrator Kyle Michel.

Chief of Police Gabe Edwards’ leave relates to a personnel matter, the press release states.

Information will be released “when the matter is concluded,” according to the release.

An interim chief has not been named. Michel told ABC 17 News the Board of Aldermen will take no action on appointing an interim until at least Tuesday evening.

This is the second time a police chief has been relieved of his duties by the city council over the past few years. In 2020, former Police Chief Lyn Woolford, who was also public administrator, was suspended and then fired.

Woolford sued the City in February 2020 after he was suspended from his job as Ashland's police chief and removed from the post of city administrator. Woolford alleged the actions happened after he refused to personally intervene in a domestic dispute involving the mayor. A settlement was eventually reached.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Ashland Board of Aldermen and Mayor Dorise Slinker and neither were available.

The Board is set to meet Tuesday night. Its current agenda does not say whether or not an interim chief will be voted on.