Posted on 02/20/2007 11:22:01 AM PST by LetsRok
Rainelle Police Chief guilty of battery
By Sarah Elkins
Rainelle Police Chief Danny Ray Price, 29, was found guilty of battery by Raleigh County Magistrate Mary Jennings on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The new chief, who was appointed to his position by Mayor McKenzie on Feb. 1, pleaded no contest to the charge. Assault and brandishing charges were dismissed. The charges stem from a July 2006 incident in which Price was arrested for hitting Mabscott officer Captain Jason Kerr.
Price paid a $50 fine in court and is reportedly responsible for Captain Kerr’s medical fees.
When asked if Price will keep his job with the police department, Rainelle Mayor McKenzie replied, "Why not? It’s a done deal." Price will remain with the department.
McKenzie claims Price is "an excellent policeman" and adds, "It was my call to make him chief."
Price’s recent scuffle is not the first time he has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Price pleaded guilty in August 2006 to obstructing a police officer. Charges of providing false information to a police officer and impersonating a police officer were dropped.
Mayor McKenzie was aware of the previous and pending charges when making his appointment on Feb. 1, but had this to say in response to questions about Price’s integrity: "What he did in Beckley has nothing to do with Rainelle."
In 2006, Price was rejected for enrollment at the WV State Police Academy. According to the state’s "Law Enforcement Training Standards" article 149-2-16, "The Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction...may deny admission to a basic entry-level training program for conduct or a pattern of conduct unbecoming to an officer or activities that would tend to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise jeopardize public trust and fidelity in law enforcement."
The standard further states, "[A]n applicant who has been denied admission to a basic entry-level training academy may not remain employed as a law enforcement officer and may not exercise any authority as a law enforcement officer..."
An official with the WV State Police academy explained that there is an exemption in which the head of an agency, such as police chief, does not have to complete officer training. The large majority of police chiefs have completed training, and, according to the official, it is extremely rare to appoint a chief who hasn’t.
Mayor McKenzie was aware of the previous and pending charges when making his appointment on Feb. 1, but had this to say in response to questions about Price’s integrity: "What he did in Beckley has nothing to do with Rainelle."
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Uh....it should.
29 is too young for a Chief of Police, IMO. A guy hasn't yet learned to cool his own head very well at that age. Older men usually know how to shake off people's crap rather than punch them.
I grew up in Greenbrier County in West Virginia. Rainelle is like "Mayberry USA", and the police chief should be more than a kid.
Please provide a link for this, or it will be pulled as a possible copyright violation.
I suspect that the mayor is going to get an education on what the phrases "knew or should have known", and "vicarious liability" mean in a civil trial.
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