‘New direction is necessary’: City of Madras names interim police chief after ousting Police Chief Timothy Plummer
Tracee Tuesday
(Update: Statement regarding Police Chief Tim Plummer’s exit from the Madras Police Department)
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council voted 4-0-1 Wednesday night to fire Police Chief Timothy Plummer. Joined with Plummer’s sharp public criticism of City Administrator Will Ibershof, who recommended his dismissal, the Madras City Council meeting was heated.
Here is the new statement from the City of Madras regarding Police Chief Tim Plummer’s exit and the appointment of Paul Garrison as interim police chief:
During the Council meeting, Ibershof claimed the Police Department was “lacking a strong leader” and said the City’s Human Resources Director was concerned that Plummer was “not holding his folks accountable,” resulting in dropped criminal charges.
Plummer was given 10 minutes to address the council and provided a document that he summarized.
He claimed his impending termination “constitutes retaliation against me for protected activities,” including a complaint he filed with the City on behalf of his Chief of Staff.
The Police Chief, hired for the position two years ago, said he believes he has been targeted by “a coordinated and targeted pattern of retaliatory conduct: that violates city policy, and applicable labor and discrimination laws.”
Plummer said an annual performance evaluation only had involved the previous three months and “looks more like a scoring blueprint for hiring somebody.”
The chief also said, “I usually don’t like to air dirty laundry,” but that “I’ve had concerns about the City Administrator and how he’s doing and acting.”
Plummer referred to a department head meeting, and Ibershof’s struggle to collect his thoughts to lead the session.
KTVZ News will continue to follow this story in Madras.