A city councilman says he will keep pushing for a full investigation of controversy surrounding Police Chief John Patience, although the mayor says it's not needed.
"The thing I'm trying to clear up at the moment is the credibility of government in Midvale City," said City Council member Kevin Jor-gen-sen.Council members learned last month that Patience, for much of at least the past 18 months, has been absent from his job because he suffered from "burnout." They also found out belatedly that Patience had wrecked his city-owned car while off duty and had delayed reporting it to police for four days.
Mayor Everett Dahl said a Salt Lake County attorney's office investigaton of the accident is sufficient, noting that it concluded, "No cause for action exists."
But Jorgensen said he still has questions.
"If this has been going on for two years, was it legal for us to still pay him? What are the exact details of the accident? Why did it take four days to report it? Was there preferential treatment given this individual, and if so, why?"
Dahl said although he opposes further investigation, he has asked the city attorney to request the attorney general's office to look into the matter. Council members say they have enough votes to force a new inquiry.
The council on Tuesday blocked a proposal to reinstate Patience on Thursday, asking instead that a second medical opinion be found on his ability to return. Patience has been on unpaid leave since Feb. 12.
"We want the chief to come back and we need to know he is capable of coming back," said Councilman Keith Alexander. "The one who's really being hurt by this is the chief, and he's one hell of a guy."
"He has been treated and fit to return to duty without restrictions," said Dahl. "I thought that was going to be the end of it."
Councilman Dave Nicol, however, said the council was taken aback by the sudden announcement.
"We were kind of surprised when he said he'd already been cleared, it had gone on for so many months," said Nicol, who said he was probably in the minority on the council in his view that no further investigation is needed.