Gitchell resigns job as head of detectives
West Memphis Police Department's chief of detectives, Gary Gitchell, has resigned from his position, Mayor Keith Ingram confirmed this morning.
Despite reports from several sources that Gitchell had resigned, Police Chief Bobby Sanders said he had not received a letter of resignation. Gitchell is on vacation until further notice, Sanders said.
But Ingram said this morning Gitchell met with him last week, and although Friday was his last day on the job, he will remain on the payroll for several months until his accrued leave time is used. He confirmed Gitchell had left to take a position with a private security agency in Memphis.
"I don't know what his intentions are," the Sanders said. "I don't know if he's coming back, and I don't know if he's leaving. I have not gotten one thing in writing."
"I'm sure he's got something on his mind, but what it is, I don't know."
Sanders said Gitchell was on vacation "until further notice."
Gitchell, whose home telephone number is unlisted, could not be reached for comment. Attempts to reach his wife, Suzanne Gitchell, city police services coordinator, at her office were answered by a telephone answering machine.
Gitchell said Thursday he was going on vacation to pursue a job opportunity. He said he had several months of accrued vacation and compensatory time.
Sanders said this morning that if Gitchell were to resign, he would remain on the payroll for several months until his accrued leave time was used.
Commander of the department's detective division for six years, Gitchell was promoted to inspector a little more than a year ago after the retirement of Insp. Mickey Miller. He has worked in the detective division for more than 10 years, and will mark his 20-year anniversary with the police department in August.
Gitchell won national attention last year when he headed the investigation by West Memphis police into the murders of three West Memphis 8-year-olds. He has served as the department's public information officer since taking charge of the detective division, and was the spokesman for the department during the investigation.
Sanders said Lt. James Sudbury, who most recently had been deputy commander of the joint West Memphis/Crittenden County Drug Task Force, is serving as interim head of the detective division and as public information officer for the department.
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(Thanks Sea and Insp. Callahan!)
West Memphis Police Department's chief of detectives, Gary Gitchell, has resigned from his position, Mayor Keith Ingram confirmed this morning.
Despite reports from several sources that Gitchell had resigned, Police Chief Bobby Sanders said he had not received a letter of resignation. Gitchell is on vacation until further notice, Sanders said.
But Ingram said this morning Gitchell met with him last week, and although Friday was his last day on the job, he will remain on the payroll for several months until his accrued leave time is used. He confirmed Gitchell had left to take a position with a private security agency in Memphis.
"I don't know what his intentions are," the Sanders said. "I don't know if he's coming back, and I don't know if he's leaving. I have not gotten one thing in writing."
"I'm sure he's got something on his mind, but what it is, I don't know."
Sanders said Gitchell was on vacation "until further notice."
Gitchell, whose home telephone number is unlisted, could not be reached for comment. Attempts to reach his wife, Suzanne Gitchell, city police services coordinator, at her office were answered by a telephone answering machine.
Gitchell said Thursday he was going on vacation to pursue a job opportunity. He said he had several months of accrued vacation and compensatory time.
Sanders said this morning that if Gitchell were to resign, he would remain on the payroll for several months until his accrued leave time was used.
Commander of the department's detective division for six years, Gitchell was promoted to inspector a little more than a year ago after the retirement of Insp. Mickey Miller. He has worked in the detective division for more than 10 years, and will mark his 20-year anniversary with the police department in August.
Gitchell won national attention last year when he headed the investigation by West Memphis police into the murders of three West Memphis 8-year-olds. He has served as the department's public information officer since taking charge of the detective division, and was the spokesman for the department during the investigation.
Sanders said Lt. James Sudbury, who most recently had been deputy commander of the joint West Memphis/Crittenden County Drug Task Force, is serving as interim head of the detective division and as public information officer for the department.
callahan.8k.com/images/ev...94b_01.jpg
callahan.8k.com/images/ev...94b_02.jpg
(Thanks Sea and Insp. Callahan!)
