Small River Valley Town Fires Only Police Officer
By: Lisa Brence & Allison Woods
Updated: February 29, 2008
One small community is now without a police force.
The Sebastian County town of Huntington is home to 688 people, but now those people dont have a police force to protect them. Police officer Ryan Stephens spent five years as the lone Huntington officer, but now hes out of a job. Stephens says he was fired for working too much overtime, overtime he says was approved by the mayor. Stephens says Mayor Craig Cotner held onto former officers equipment, and he asked the city council to have Cotner return it to the department. Thats when Stephens says he was fired. Now, his attorney Kevin Ridgley is trying to help his client get his job back. Stephens and Ridgley say theyve tried to contact the city council, but say they arent getting any answers. Mayor Cotner was out of the office Monday.
