Jonesboro Mayor Disciplines Chief of Police Over Facebook Comments

A police chief accused of making online statements about a former newspaper reporter that touched off a firestorm of controversy was suspended for a month without pay, Mayor Harold Perrin said Friday.

In addition to the suspension, Jonesboro chief of police Mike Yates was ordered to complete a training course to be determined by the mayor’s office and related to media posts.

Yates has faced controversy since details of postings on a Facebook page surfaced about former Jonesboro Sun reporter Sunshine Crump. Crump, who was a police-courts reporter for the newspaper, resigned Monday night after she told paper officials she did not feel safe.

According to our content partner, KAIT Ch. 8, Sun publisher David Mosesso said Yates had maligned Crump’s character and was interfering with the paper’s ability to do its business.

Mosesso told the station that the problems began when Crump wrote a story about Yates teaching a class at Arkansas State University without having a proper permission form on file with the city.

KAIT reported the Facebook posts challenged Crump, noting two posts in particular.

“Wonder if ole Sunshine (reporter) could pass a drug test?,” Yates wrote. “Why yes, she has been arrested before …” or “This is the kind of journalism we have now. “Ask ole Sunshine why her law license got suspended next time you see her.”

The television station found no evidence of drug history or an arrest, but noted Crump was arrested in 2003 for participating in an anti-war protest in Houston. That charge was dropped.

As for the law license, Crump’s license in Texas was not lost for any disciplinary problems but for allowing the license to expire by not paying membership fees.

Jonesboro City Attorney Phillip Crego then began an investigation after Mosesso filed a complaint with the city, KAIT reported.

PUNISHMENT
According to a statement released about 2 p.m. Friday, Perrin said Yates must:

· Complete a training course to be determined by the Mayor’s office and related to the online posts. The mayor has also directed the city’s Human Resources director to present him with a list of appropriate opportunities for training, with the training taking place and must be completed during the 30 day suspension.

· Issue a formal, written letter of apology to Crump and the Sun. Proof of the letters must be presented before Yates can be reinstated.

Perrin also ordered Crego to complete a review of the police department’s FOI policies and to notify Perrin and interim Police Chief Tim Eads of any violations.

A written warning was also issued to Yates.

“Future use of social media or any other forms of personal communication to imply threats, actions or consequences tied to your influence or authority as Chief of Police or as an employee of the city of Jonesboro will be cause for immediate termination,” Perrin said.

PERRIN STATEMENT
In a statement Friday, Perrin said he was disappointed in Yates’ action. Perrin also said the incidents, subsequent investigation and discipline was difficult to look out.

“There was not a single decision that I could make that was going to make everyone happy. There were many that were outraged and rushed to the conclusion that I should act in a certain way, and many others that were supportive of the Chief and rushed to the conclusion that I should act in another (way). At the end of the day, I had to weigh all the factors in play, including not only this one particular series of events involving Chief Yates, but also the job he has done for the citizens of Jonesboro during his entire tenure as our Chief of Police.”

“Not a single one of us is infallible, and any human being is capable in erring in judgment and making mistakes,” Perrin continued. “But like all decisions, those made by the Chief have consequences. I do not condone the comments that Chief Yates made through social media concerning Ms. Crump or her employer, and I have made it clear through my disciplinary action that I will not tolerate any such future behavior. I have carefully weighed all my options and firmly fell that this is the best course of action to take at this particular time. I pray that we can all move past this as a community, learn from our mistakes and get back to serving the citizens in a manner that instills confidence and pride in our city.”

An attempt to reach Yates Friday afternoon was not successful.