Mapleton in uproar over firing

MAPLETON — The surprise firing of the city's popular police chief earlier this month resulted in another surprise Wednesday night — along with a lot of concern on the part of city public safety employees and volunteers.

Interim police chief Scott Gardner — on the job just two weeks following the firing of former chief Michael Roberts — announced his resignation near the end of a tumultuous City Council session. He will stay on the job for another month while the city hires a new chief and then will take a position with neighboring Spanish Fork Police.

The city's public safety structure was thrust into turmoil on Jan. 7, two days after three new council members — enough to form a majority vote — were sworn in and made firing Roberts their first order of business.

Members of the city's fire and ambulance departments met with Mayor Dean Allan prior to Wednesday's session, then hung around and peppered the City Council with questions and concerns about the future of their leadership at a council workshop.

Volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel at the meeting voiced concern over the potential for the City Council to rotate their leadership positions. The volunteers contend that the fire chief and ambulance director need to stay in place over a long period because of the time it takes to learn the job, firefighter Norm Bingham said. The emergency personnel also need to have a say in who is selected to lead them, added firefighter Kendall Wilson.

Gardner's resignation continues the long-running political turmoil surrounding the city's police department.

Much of the turmoil Wednesday focused on the mystery surrounding Roberts' dismissal.

"This (Roberts' firing) will be a real roadblock to get (a new police chief)," said resident Steve Roden. "We'll have a hard time to attract good police chiefs."

Resident Glen Griffin, who said he was "astonished and amazed" at Roberts' dismissal, asked the council to reinstate the former chief.

"He was excellent and really well-qualified," Griffin said. "Something isn't right."

Council members and the mayor remained tight-lipped concerning the reasons that prompted the firing.

A prepared statement released by Allen states that Roberts' termination wasn't "based on any wrongdoing or lack of integrity," but offers no other insights.

Allan maintains that Roberts was an at-will employee and subject to termination "for no reason at all."