Police chief terminated; Mathis loses job after two weeks of personnel investigation

Shawnee Police Chief Bill Mathis won’t return to work Monday from a two-week vacation because his position as chief of police was terminated Friday afternoon. His unplanned two weeks away from the office was prompted by an internal personnel investigation.
A statement issued by the city manager’s office said the city determined it is in the best interest of the community and the department to go in a different direction in the management of the police department.
“The city appreciates Chief Mathis’ contribution to the city, the department, and the community and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” it said.
Mathis had no comments about the termination but said he may in the future. He and his family moved to Shawnee from Lawton when he became chief in October 2006.
“I wanted this place to be our home — we wanted to stay here many years,” Mathis said. “We’ll see what the future holds.”
Mathis took a vacation and the city began looking into personnel matters following reports of an alleged verbal altercation between Mathis and a police union attorney at an Aug. 22 meeting.
A complaint was filed by the union Aug. 26 in connection with that meeting. Interim City Manager Phyllis Loftis sought an independent legal counsel to conduct an internal personnel investigation into the incident.
Based on the outcome of that probe and advice from the counsel, Loftis made the decision to terminate Mathis’ position. He was notified Friday afternoon and served with a letter of termination; he turned over his keys, patrol car and other items to city and police officials.
“It was a tough decision but I’m convinced it was the right thing to do,” Loftis told the News-Star by phone Friday while traveling on a planned trip for a family wedding.
“I’d like people to know I didn’t make this decision lightly,” Loftis said. “I agonized over this decision and felt it was in the best interest of the city.”
Loftis, a longtime city employee who was appointed city manager when Jim Collard was fired June 15, said she won’t seek candidates to fill the chief’s position. Instead, she’s appointed Lt. Russell Frantz to serve as interim police chief and said once a new city manager is hired, that person can take on the task of hiring a new police chief.
Frantz was busy Friday informing officers about Mathis’ departure and planned to have meetings with each shift.
“My main thing is to keep them focused on the job — serving the citizens and fighting crime,” Frantz said. “That’s where we need to stay focused.”
Frantz said a lot of good things have happened at the department in the past two years and it is time to concentrate on those and keep the department moving forward. Frantz, a 21-year veteran of the Shawnee Police Department, is a graduate of the National FBI Academy and an active member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Mayor Chuck Mills, who played golf in Seminole with Mathis Friday morning, told the News-Star Friday afternoon that he was shocked about Mathis being fired and hadn’t yet talked to Loftis.
Mills said there’s no question Mathis and the labor union “have been at it from day one,” but he said Mathis tried to bring professionalism to the police department by increasing training.
“He worked hard — he’s done a really good job,” Mills said.
Mills said he was pleased with Mathis and said he’s one of the “best managers we’ve had.”
“I don’t think he’s had his fair due,” Mills said.
“I’m frustrated, disappointed and shocked it was handled in this matter,”  Mills said, questioning why Loftis couldn’t have waited to take action until Monday when Mathis was scheduled to return to work.
Loftis said, “I felt like I was put into a position to consider the best interest of the city. When something falls in your lap, you have to deal with it.”
The city manager is the only person who can terminate at-will city employees; Mathis was an at-will employee.
“Because it’s a personnel matter, she (Loftis) doesn’t have to tell me,” Mills said.
Vice Mayor Pam Stephens said she knew Loftis drafted a letter of termination, but said members of the city commission have no authority over the chief’s employment.
“It’s a personnel issue — it’s within the city manager’s responsibility to make this decision,” Stephens said, “and she (Loftis) has made it based on independent counsel.”
When the city commission appointed Loftis as interim city manager, “We did not limit her authority,” Stephens said. While Stephens said she’s been pleased with the programs Mathis has implemented during his tenure, the termination was about personnel issues.
Mills said the situation is “another black eye for the city of Shawnee.”
“Where we go from here will be interesting,” Mills said.
Commissioner Tom Schrzan said the commission has no say about the police chief’s employment per city charter, but he said he and others had become concerned about the health and safety of Shawnee residents.
“That’s alleviated now. I, for one, support the city manager and her decision,” Schrzan said.
Mathis became Shawnee’s police chief in October 2006 after 26 years of service with the Lawton Police Department. Despite Friday’s action to end his employment, a statement from the city lauded his positive contributions to the department.
“During his tenure with the city of Shawnee, Chief Mathis was instrumental in initiating new units within the department, such as the gang unit, lake unit, crisis unit, and professional standards, development of an enhanced training program, including securing the acquisition of a use of force simulator and driving simulator,” a press release issued by the city said.
But the chief also was involved in many controversial issues over the past two years, including several grievances and arbitrations with the police union. Others included civil lawsuits surrounding content in a neighborhood watch newsletter and issues involving a female officer who was fired in March 2007 after making allegations of assault against the chief in December 2006. That officer went back to work in January after arbitration ruled the city didn’t have just cause to fire her. Mathis also was named in a May tort claim in which a former detective claimed Mathis falsely stopped him in a traffic stop May 16, the same day that officer’s retirement became effective.
Reaction to the chief’s termination seemed to have a common theme Friday — that the department must continue to move forward.
Ken King, president of the police union, spoke on behalf of members.
“We are looking forward to moving forward in a positive matter that will be in the best interest of the department and citizens of Shawnee,” King said.
Pottawatomie County’s top law enforcement officer, District Attorney Richard Smothermon, said the decision on Mathis has been made and everyone must move forward.
“The city and the police department have got to put this behind them and move forward,” Smothermon said. “Forget about picking sides — it’s time to move on. Let’s go find us the best chief possible.”
The Shawnee Police Foundation, comprised of volunteers who help with fund raising projects for the department, worked with Mathis during his tenure.
Bob Seikel, past chairman and member of that foundation, was surprised to hear about the chief’s firing. While he said city officials must have had their reasons, “I thought the chief was doing a good job,” Seikel said.
Mathis started many good programs, Seikel said, adding that Mathis was strong on training issues and equipment. Seikel said he hopes those efforts continue within the department.
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Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962.