Ashland city admin calls timeframe in police chief case ‘unusual delay by the Highway Patrol’
ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)
Ashland City Administrator Kyle Michel referred to the timeframe for the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s investigation of suspended police chief Gabe Edwards an “unusual delay” in a Tuesday press release.
This comes after a memo from Callaway County Prosecutor Benjamin Miller indicated Edwards could be charged with a crime.
“It is most concerning that the Highway Patrol has failed to produce a probable cause statement as requested by Mr. Miller. This statement from Mr. Miller would appear to indicate that a crime has been committed and that the Highway Patrol reached that conclusion as part of their investigation into Chief Edwards,” Michel wrote in the Tuesday release. “This unusual delay by the Highway Patrol further extends the amount of time that has been invested in this ongoing personnel matter which ultimately further burdens the residents of the City of Ashland.”
According to the Nov. 8 memo, Miller said he felt Gabe Edwards could be charged with misuse of official information for getting information through the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System for non-work-related reasons.
However, Miller wrote in the memo that he had not filed charges because the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control had not submitted a probable cause statement. Miller said he asked the patrol for a probable cause statement on Oct. 4 but never received one.
City leaders put Edwards on paid leave in July for reasons that haven't been made public. Edwards sued the city on Oct. 23, claiming that the city removed him from the job illegally because he criticized the mayor on social media. According to a previous press release, Edwards will be on leave until at least the end of MSHP's investigation. MSHP opened its investigation in August.
Several days after the lawsuit was filed, the city released a statement saying that officials were aware of the lawsuit but clarified that Edwards was still employed.
A former Ashland police officer Tom Whitener – who also sued the city in October, claiming wrongful termination – claimed in court documents that Edwards was placed on leave three days after he reported alleged misconduct by the chief of police. Edwards was not explicitly named in the lawsuit; however, the timeframe aligns with Edwards’ tenure as police chief.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
