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October 8, 2009

Fort Gibson police chief resigns

By Donna Hales

Fort Gibson Police Chief Joe Hughart confirmed Wednesday he resigned this week, effective Oct. 30.

Hughart, 39, said he tendered his resignation Monday morning. It came less than a week after Fort Gibson Police Officer Billy Parris was terminated by the council, but not upon his recommendation, Hughart said.

Hughart said Parris being terminated was “definitely an awkward situation — it was out of the norm the way that was handled, but wasn’t the reason (for Hughart’s resignation).”

Hughart said his resignation was a decision he and his family made.

“I know it’s time to move on from Fort Gibson.”

He said there were no bad intentions toward anyone.

“That’s why I gave them a month notice and offered to do anything to make a transition easier. It was just time to move on,” he said.

He owns his home in Fort Gibson, and his children are in school there, so at this time there is no intention to move from there, he said.

He said he has every intention to leave the chief’s position on good terms.

Chief for the last 2 1/2 years, Hughart has been at the Fort Gibson Police Department for 13 years. Before that, he worked as a police officer at Gore and before that at Porum. He said he started his law enforcement career as a Muskogee County reserve officer.

Former Fort Gibson Police Chief Richard Slader, now the investigator for the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office, recommended Hughart be promoted upon Slader’s resignation as chief of police. Hughart said some town trustees have asked him to reconsider, but he’s made his decision.

The town administrator was out ill Wednesday, but employees said the acceptance of Hughart’s resignation probably will appear on the board of trustee’s Monday meeting agenda.

An advertisement for a new police chief at Fort Gibson was in Wednesday’s Phoenix.

Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email

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