Posted on 11/14/2011 3:15:52 PM PST by Morgana
UPDATE 11/14/11 @ 5 p.m. ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway says he hopes to have the situation involving Police Chief Brent Coates resolved 'shortly', and a city leader says a decision could come as early as Tuesday.
Mayor Callaway says, at this time, Chief Coates is still on administrative leave. As WSAZ.com has previously reported, someone close to the investigation says allegations of sexual harrassment have been made against Coates. Click here to find out more!
Mayor Callaway says they are serious allegations, and he is not ready to release any information until "all the i's have been dotted and all the t's crossed." He says the city is doing a proper, professional investigation and he will not be pressured into releasing any information.
WSAZ.com has also confirmed that some of Coates personal items were taken out of his desk over the weekend. The mayor says those items had been approved to be taken out.
Mayor Callaway also confirms that Captain James Agee is now the executive officer, calling the shots for the department during this investigation. Several officers say Coates has not been seen for weeks, and has not turned in his badge or his cruiser. However, Mayor Callaway says that's simply because Coates is still on administrative leave.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsaz.com ...
A West Virginia native, Coates graduated from Poca High School. He worked for three years for the South Charleston Police Department before moving to Florida where he joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1983. He worked his way up through the ranks where he will retire with the rank Major. His last duty post is Director of the Florida Highway Patrol Academy.
Coates graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy and the Florida Highway Patrol Academy. He has a B.A. Degree from Barry University. He has also completed training at Florida State University,
He has worked on the scenes of such disasters as the shift commander during the ValuJet crash in 1996 and the incident commander at an Amtrak derailment in 2002.
Coates has coached girls’ softball for several years. He and his wife, Kendra, have two children. His wife is also a native of West Virginia. Coates will retire from the Florida Highway Patrol at the end of January 2011. He will begin work in St. Albans on Feb. 14, 2011.
Coates will replace Chief Joe Crawford, who is retiring after 24 years of service.
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