When last we visited Jericho, Arkansas, a police officer shot the assistant fire chief in the back inside the courtroom. A story this ridiculous demands an update. And I’m here to oblige. But it’s not likely to be what you expect.
Don Payne says he was shot in the back by a Jericho police officer over two weeks ago now. He says he was planning on getting back to work as soon possible, until he received a termination letter from the mayor. “As it comes to my attention of the improper behavior that you displayed as the assistant fire chief of the town of Jericho”: Those are the words of Jericho mayor Helen Adams to Don Payne.
This would be the improper behavior of using his back to stop the travel of a bullet. A waste of government resources perhaps? Mayor Helen thereupon relieved Payne of his fire chief duties. He was fired from his volunteer job because he was shot.
As you will recall, the police chief decided to disband the police force “until things calmed down.” After all, you wouldn’t want to have a police force in an uncalm town of 174 people. But even small towns can burn.
As you will recall, the police chief decided to disband the police force “until things calmed down.” After all, you wouldn’t want to have a police force in an uncalm town of 174 people. But even small towns can burn.
All of Jericho’s 18 firefighters have quit in a move to stand by a former assistant fire chief who was shot by an officer at city hall on Aug. 27 and then fired by the mayor last week, according to WREG-TV.
Remarkably, there’s no information about the cop who shot Don Payne in the back in the Jericho town courtroom. It’s unclear whether the Mayor really loves the cops or really hates the fire department, but for the time being, Jericho’s got neither.
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Actually, last I read the mayor insists the police are on the job and manning their speed traps.
…of course, the mayor also said the town is covered for fire protection… though when pressed about it she says it’s something they are working on… then again, the nearest neighbor town fire dept hasn’t been asked to cover the town.
Oh, btw, in addition to pressing forward with criminal charges against the asst chief they shot in the back, the police also say they’re going to sue him as well.
Sounds like Jericho is taking the hard line against the guy, sorry to say.
Off topic, but I can’t help noticing that in a town of 174 people, there are seven cops, 18 firefighters, a mayor and who knows how many other public employees. Who’s paying for all this?
If memory serves, Jericho has a bit of an unemployment problem as well. But I believe that the cost of maintaining government was the reason why the cops were catching the firemen in speed traps. Gotta get that revenue somehow.
Cops should do a prime time special on this bastion of all-american small town values.