Longtime Columbia Police Chief Michael Kelly and several officers within the department announced their resignation Friday, with Kelly’s final day being Tuesday. Kelly resigned under heavy speculation of wrongdoing within the department, which is being investigated by the C-P. During a Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, at Mayor Justin McKenzie’s recommendation, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Brad Anderson was appointed interim chief.
McKenzie opened the meeting, which grew so large that people were standing outside the board room in the City Hall lobby to listen in, with a statement before addressing the resignations individually.
“(There) has been an immense amount of pressure put on me about what to do because so many walked out at one time or certain ones quit together,” he said. “The blessing was the group of men and women who serve and usually work patrol daily in other positions did not walk out. There were some who did quit, and when I say they walked out, they quit with little to no warning.”
McKenzie then asked the board to accept the resignations of Kelly (effective 4 p.m. Tuesday), Sgt. Jeff Stamps (effective Sept. 1), Jamie Moulds (effective last Friday), Lt. Chris Bush (effective 4 p.m. Tuesday), part-time Officer Phillip Forbes, Sgt. Daniel English (effective 6 a.m. Wednesday), Lt. Justin Porter and Officer Justin Echols. Each of the resignations were accepted unanimously by the board.
Stamps’ exit is unrelated to the chief’s departure — he was offered a chance to return to his hometown and work for the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.
Echols offered to submit his two-week notice last week, but Kelly told him to turn his issued belongings in on the spot, according to McKenzie.
Prior to any of the other requests, Officer Gerald Magee had previously requested to be moved to part-time but has since agreed to remain with the CPD on a full-time basis.
Officer Vada Koepp had turned in her resignation but has rescinded it after learning of Kelly’s departure.
Stamps, Forbes, English, Echols, Magee and Koepp are not believed to be involved in any wrongdoing.
During Kelly’s six-year tenure, the CPD has had rampant turnover with more than 100 officers working at the CPD.
The mayor told citizens in attendance that in no way has the city been left vulnerable because of the lack of officers. He said there remains a lot of good men and women who remain employed at the CPD who have stepped up to help with the transition to a new chief.
“The city and I assure you,” McKenzie said, “that we are doing everything we can for this city and for you all. I’m saying that wholeheartedly and open-heartedly. The city holds a very special place in my heart.”
Adrien Fortenberry, who currently works for the Lumberton Police Department and is a Columbia native, has applied to be the next police chief. There has been strong support for Fortenberry online among Marion County residents.
McKenzie said the city received another application on Tuesday with six or seven law enforcement officers also expressing interest in the position, and it will be accepting applications until Friday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m.
McKenzie said in the city’s search for its next police chief, city leadership wants to find a candidate who will help foster a strong, committed and reputable department.
“The thing the board and I agreed to is we want what’s best for Columbia wholeheartedly. I don’t want just the next guy, whoever that is. We don’t want to make a decision hastily or recklessly,” he explained. “For the city and its citizens, we believe it is only right to go through the hiring process. May we hire the very best person for the job.”
Rev. James Lowe addressed the board to say he and many of the citizens in attendance weren’t there for anything other than supporting Fortenberry.
“We didn’t come here just to look and not say anything. Most of us are here because of the vacancy of the chief position, and we are here to support Adrien Fortenberry,” he said. “We just want you all to know we are in support of him. I would like for you all to consider the voice of the people.”
Also during the meeting, the board approved the appointment of Anderson as the interim police chief. Anderson, who has worked with the sheriff’s office for nearly six years, previously worked for the CPD for two years. The mayor said the city wanted to appoint someone who did not have any opinion related to the previous administration and could right the ship.
Anderson is not leaving the sheriff’s office to join the CPD. The longtime investigator was actually slated to go on vacation with his wife to the mountains and has enough comp time built up to take three weeks off to serve as interim chief before returning to the sheriff’s office.
“The sheriff has graciously agreed to allow (Anderson) to come over here and help us hold the course and get things situated,” McKenzie said.
Alderman Mike Smith asked Anderson to speak to the board and everyone in the audience, and the MCSO investigator said God let the circumstances work out just right so that he can take time off and serve with the CPD.
“The lady you ought to thank is that woman right there,” Anderson said while pointing to his wife. “She’s giving up the mountains — that’s two weeks of vacations. I’m here to steady the ship. I know most of the people on the road just want to know that there’s somebody with their best interest right now. I would love to offer myself to you (the board) to give you enough time to find the right person. Once you have that and make your decisions, I can’t imagine this being any more transparent than it is now.
“I am gainfully and happily employed with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Berkley Hall and Jamie Singley have gone out of their way. I effectively walked in their offices and said, ‘Sheriff and Chief Deputy, can I have three weeks off on 24-hour notice.’ You see I’m standing here. That lets you know who you’re working with. That tells you the county and the city, we love each other. There’s been a separation that I’m going to do everything I can in the time that I have to fix. Whoever comes in, as long as they can fix that, we’ll be together like we’ve never been in a long time. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
The C-P is investigating the allegations of wrongdoing within the Columbia Police Department and will continue to report on it.
