Former Centralia police officer speaks out amid fallout between city and police department
CENTRALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former Centralia Police officer says he was wrongly fired amid fallout between the city government and the police department.
Patrick McGee feels he was wrongly fired a month ago over an alleged policy violation.
He was the first of three officers to leave the CPD over the past two months.
"My firing I believe was a stepping stone towards them, taking down the chief," McGee said. "Take out an officer, lowers forces, and tried to impact the department to force his hand, and instead they forced his resignation."
Centralia City Administrator Heather Russell declined our request for an interview but confirmed the three officers' departures.
A petition to reinstate a fired officer to the Centralia Police Department has gained more than 300 signatures amid fallout from the resignation of two other members of the small department.
The petition seeks to reinstate Officer Patrick McGee to the Centralia Police Department.
The petition says the reason given to McGee was "for speaking with a juvenile witness of a crime/investigation without permission from the juvenile office or parent consent." However he says he didn't violate any policies.
The department's website says it is normally made up of approximately 18 employees, 11 sworn police officers, one code enforcement officer and a civilian support staff of six.
The department just lost three sworn officers between McGee's firing and the resignation of Chief Bob Bias, who leaves Oct. 10, and another officer.
Russell says the Centralia Police Department has nine full-time sworn officers, one code enforcement officer and a civilian support staff of six.
"We have had a staff of 10 full-time officers since 2019 with a few part-time officers to fill in as needed," Russell said. "If the department is understaffed we will do whatever is deemed necessary at that time to ensure the safety of our citizens."
Current Centralia Police Officer Logan Feger says officers are chipping in and working overtime - but there are no coverage issues.
"The police department is going to continue being there for its citizens and the services to our citizens will not be impacted by this," Feger said.
Russell says there currently is no agreement with outside agencies to provide assistance.
The city's website says it has a General Government & Public Safety Committee Meeting scheduled for Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
