The Associated Press
ROLLA, N.D. -- The three-man police force in this city will lose two officers following months of problems and political turmoil.
The Rolla City Council fired Wayne Slater on Friday. Another officer, Chris Wright, announced his resignation minutes later.
Council member Bryant Mueller, a former Rolette County Sheriff, said misconduct including falsified time cards and inaccurate report writing led to Slater’s firing.
Slater denied falsifying time reports and said he plans to sue the city, in part for discrimination. Slater is an American Indian.
The council voted 4-2 to fire Slater after meeting in a closed session. Council members Debbie Hudson and Alex Albert voted against firing Slater.
“I don’t think we have grounds to terminate Wayne,” Hudson said. Albert said Slater should instead be disciplined.
Wright said he quit because the council would have fired him next. “They did it to him this week and they’ll do it to me next week, so why prolong it,” he said.
Problems with the police department were noted in May, when Rolette County State’s Attorney Mary O’Donnell refused to accept any cases directly from the Rolla Police Department.
O’Donnell cited inaccurate or incomplete reports and failure to follow proper procedure, and insisted cases from Rolla police also be investigated by the sheriff.
Since then, former mayor Bob Camper and former police chief Bernie Gutz have resigned and former council member Phyllis Harrington was recalled.
Elkins said the state’s attorney is now accepting cases from the department as long as he reviews them.
“Losing one officer will be very harmful and hurtful, but losing two will be very devastating,” Elkins said. Rolla police handle about 10 felony cases a month, he said.