GLASGOW — Glasgow Mayor Darrell Pickett announced he had officially asked chief of police Gary Bewley to step down during a Friday afternoon press conference at city hall.

Pickett confirmed he had removed Bewley from the top post at the department.

“It is with regret and a heavy heart that I have relieved Gary Bewley from his position as chief of police of the Glasgow Police Department. 

While Bewley has been asked to step down from his position as chief, he has not been dismissed or relieved of duties as a Glasgow police officer,” he said.

Bewley was hired into the department in May 1980. He was promoted to sergeant in July 1996 and to captain in July 2000. He served as interim chief at the beginning of 2005 when Chief Ron Harris left the department. Pickett appointed Bewley COP in July 2005.

Pickett stated that Bewley had no involvement in any criminal actions at the police department and it should not be surmised that was the reason he was asked to step down.

“... I want to make it absolutely clear that my decision to relieve  Gary Bewley from the position of chief should in no way be construed as a response to any belief, conclusion or judgment on my part that  Gary Bewley was in any form or fashion to blame for the alleged criminal actions of majors Johnny Travis and Maxie Murray or that Gary Bewley did not attempt to faithfully perform his duties as chief of police in the face of the current upheaval in our community brought about by federal investigation and subsequent indictments,” he said.

Pickett also spoke of his own personal support for the former chief.

“Gary Bewley has been a loyal, dedicated policeman of our city and he is a fine Christian gentleman who would never shirk a duty or responsibility assigned to him. He has devoted his entire, untarnished career of some 29 years to the city of Glasgow and for his civil service. I will always respect and hold Gary in the highest regard,” he said.

Pickett also used the press conference to clarify several points about the federal investigation of Murray and Travis about whom knew what and when they knew it. He addressed several allegations that have been circulating in the community since the arrest of the officers and said he hoped things would be cleared up now.

“Concerning majors Travis and Murray and the federal investigation into their alleged wrongdoing, I want to expand upon and clarify my previous comments at last Thursday’s press conference,” he said. “Clearly, I have known that federal authorities have been in

Glasgow over the last several months and that those authorities have been conducting an investigation and questioning individuals, including various police officers. If my previous statement did not make that point clear, let me do so now.

“I knew of the investigation because Gary Bewley made me aware of it. 

Obviously, this was no real surprise because rumors and assumptions were already being made in every corner of the community. At my request, Gary Bewley took steps to inquire of the federal authorities as to the parameters of the investigation.

“Gary Bewley briefed the city attorney and me concerning his contact with the federal authorities. In turn, the city attorney made similar inquiries of the federal authorities – again, confirming that an investigation was being conducted – but he received no details or any indication that the federal authorities were willing to disclose them.”

Pickett explained that he and local law enforcement were not given any information about the federal government’s case.

“To this very day, the federal authorities have never contacted me, nor have they disclosed to me any of the details of their investigation,” he said. “Further, what is important to realize is that when the federal government conducts an investigation, it does so according to its own means and methods and does not often solicit or welcome the help of outsiders – in this case, the very organization it is investigating.

“The city was on a need-to-know basis and, as it played out, the federal authorities determined that we did not need to know any details until last Wednesday when the indictments were handed down. And, quite frankly, there are still many details to which we are not privy.”

Pickett reiterated that Bewley was doing his job as chief to the best of his ability given the circumstances in which he had to operate.

“What I am trying to convey to you (the public) is that neither I, nor Gary Bewley, turned a blind eye to this matter. We were both very concerned about the police department,” he said.

The mayor said he doesn’t make any important decisions regarding the welfare of the city without first conferring with Glasgow City Attorney Rich Alexander to be sure of the ramifications of his actions.

“In consultation with the city attorney, the decision was made to let the federal authorities know that the police department had an open door policy concerning the investigation,” he said. “Through the chief and the city attorney, the city conveyed its desire to fully cooperate, and we tried to patiently await the outcome. I did not want to, nor would I, step in and be perceived as impeding or clouding the federal investigation.”

Pickett said he also wanted to protect the two officers’ legal rights.

“... From my own experience as police chief, I knew that under Kentucky law, police officers have certain statutory rights when it comes to questioning them about alleged misconduct, preferring charges against them and conducting a hearing before disciplining them,” he said. “In my opinion, a rush to judgment would have been ill-advised and would have intensified an already dismal situation.”

Statements in the previous press conference had more to do with the events that unfolded last Wednesday when the charges and evidence against the two officers were made known to him, rather than what he knew about the federal investigation, Pickett said.

“... I knew of the investigation for some time, but without being privy to any of the details, I believe it is fair to say, as I did in my previous statement, that like you (the public), I was shocked by the indictments handed down last Wednesday, he said. “With that as a backdrop, I also want to clearly and absolutely state that my decision to relieve Gary Bewley from his position as police chief is not – I repeat not – about making Gary Bewley the fall guy or scapegoat for this whole ordeal.”

It was time to make a change in leadership because the seriousness of situation that occurred within the police department warranted it, Pickett said.

“To protect and serve is written on the back of every patrol car in our department’s fleet – a bedrock principle upon which all law enforcement is built,” he said. “My decision to relieve Gary Bewley from his position as police chief is because the public trust in the police department – the public trust in this bedrock principle – has been shaken by the recent events.”

Council members were made aware of the mayor’s intended course of action regarding Bewley during their closed session meeting, Pickett said.

“This past Monday afternoon, in closed session of a special-called meeting, I briefed the city council of the situation within the police department as it is currently known to me,” he said. “Yes, I informed the council of my intended action with respect to Gary Bewley’s tenure as chief and I sought their reactions and support.” 

Even though he apprised the council of his plans, Pickett said the decision was his to make because of the position he holds.

“... As the elected executive authority of the city, it is ultimately my responsibility, and mine alone, to take action to restore the trust in the police department,” he said.

As of Saturday morning Bewley was still weighing his options as to whether he would remain with the department as a captain or retire.

“I just have to look at everything and decide what’s best,” he said. Beyond that, Bewley said he had no other comments to make.