State seeks discipline against former Ashland police chief

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Public Safety has filed a petition to discipline a former Ashland police chief, alleging criminal activity by using a law enforcement database for purposes that weren't job-related.

Former Chief Gabe Edwards resigned after a settlement was reached in 2023. Edwards had sued the City of Ashland after he was suspended that summer for criticizing the mayor on social media. The city settled a lawsuit brought by Tom Whitener, a former officer under Edwards, earlier this month. Whitener will receive $1 million in the settlement.

Whitener had alleged that Edwards fired him in retaliation for reporting the chief's misuse of the law enforcement database known as MULES.

Whitener alleged that Edwards used the database to search the mayor's criminal background and post the information on Facebook,

Those allegations resurface in the petition filed Monday with the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission. The Department of Public Safety is asking the commission to take disciplinary action against Edwards' peace officer license.

A hearing has been set for Dec. 15.

The petition states that Edwards admitted to misusing the system under the alias "Keith Beavers" during a 2023 interview with the Ashland city administrator.