By Tesla Rodriguez
Winona Daily News
LEWISTON, Minn. — The city of Lewiston is without a police chief — again. The Lewiston City Council approved the resignation of former chief Joe Hastings earlier this month after Hastings submitted his resignation Jan. 17. He is the sixth chief to leave the position in the past six years, with previous chiefs leaving under a variety of circumstances.
Hastings’ resignation came a little more than a month after an external investigation was completed, after accusations that Hastings “committed illegal interception of oral communications.” The investigation did not produce criminal charges, and the Lewiston City Council didn’t pursue disciplinary actions.
The chief turnover in Lewiston hasn’t come without controversy. At least one former chief sued the city and another appealed his firing. Another firing caused residents to show up to a council meeting to oppose the decision.
“This is extremely odd,” former chief Dave Sanow said, who is on the committee to decide the future of the department. “Something is going on.”
Full Story: Lewiston without police chief for sixth time -- in six years