Ruleville Police Chief Ernie Scarber is back in uniform and on the job after a mid-week attempt to fire him apparently ran afoul of state statute.
The Enterprise-Tocsin learned on Wednesday that newly-elected Ruleville Mayor Michael Clark had requested the assistance of the Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department while delivering a notice of termination to Scarber on Wednesday.
Clark himself worked under Scarber for several years as a police officer until he was elected mayor of the northern Sunflower County city as an Independent candidate this past summer.
Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood confirmed to The E-T on Wednesday that Clark had requested the presence of deputies that day.
Scarber told us on Friday afternoon that three deputies showed up, as he handed over his badge and gun and removed some personal things from his office.
There was no incident during the attempted termination, as Scarber said he knew it would not hold up.
“This can’t be happening without the board,” Scarber said of his thoughts as the situation unfolded.
A special call meeting of the mayor and the board of aldermen was to follow on Thursday night, but Clark and two aldermen failed to show.
Without a quorum, no official meeting transpired, but many citizens who attended voiced their frustrations with the board and the chief to Board Attorney Arnold Luciano.
The meeting was cast live on Facebook.
Luciano explained that the mayor cannot unilaterally fire a city employee.
“That’s not the role of the mayor,” he said. “That’s the role of the board of aldermen. The board of aldermen is the one that has the power to hire and fire. The mayor cannot do that on his own, unilaterally. You would have problems if one person could that on his on all the time.”
Luciano made clear Clark’s actions were not valid.
“Your chief of police is Ernie Scarber until you five vote to remove him,” Luciano said. “When somebody acts outside of their scope as alderman or mayor, they impose personal liability upon themselves.”
Clark spoke with The E-T on Friday and maintains that he had the authority to dismiss Scarber.
“He’s never been reappointed by this administration, to my knowledge,” Clark said. “I never reappointed him.”
As for the next action regarding his former boss, Clark wasn’t sure, as of press time.
“That’s a good question,” Clark said. “I can’t say exactly what really transpired at that so-called meeting last night since I wasn’t there. It’s kind of up in the wind right now as far as what we’re going to do next.”
Scarber said he’s moved on from the invalidated dismissal and will continue to lead the Ruleville Police Department for now.
