Wister trustees rescind police firings, look to re-terminate them at tonight’s meeting

During an emergency meeting of the Town of Wister Board of Trustees on Monday night at Wister City Hall following its regular meeting, the board rescinded the terminations of Police Chief Brandon Cooper and Officer Shawn Booth.

To start the emergency meeting, the town’s attorney, Robert Stockton, explained to the board that the board did not follow public notice statute when it went into executive session and thereafter terminated Cooper and Booth in a special meeting July 15. Stockton was notified about this in a message received from the Oklahoma attorney general’s inspector.

“They started an investigation, and they looked at our notice provisions and, without making judgment, the inspector said, ‘We have concerns,’” Stockton said. “I’m not sure if it was clear to the public. It’s gray. The public needs to know that you’re going to take an action. If it isn’t clear, then you shouldn’t do that. I don’t feel that you had jurisdiction to do what you did that night under the Open Meetings Act.”

Also, regarding the investigation, Stockton advised the trustees to exercise “conservative judgment” in their actions during meetings.

The agenda for the July 15 special meeting stated in Item 16a, “Proposed executive session pursuant to Section 307 B.1 of the Title 25 of Oklahoma Statutes regarding Police Department,” and Item 18, “Discuss and/or take action on Police Department.”

The trustees voted unanimously to rescind the terminations of Cooper and Booth.

After the meeting, Stockton nor Wister Trustee Max Harris did not respond to request for comment about the situation with the police department.

At 6:30 tonight, the Town of Wister Trustees will have a special meeting with votes on terminating Cooper and Booth again. This time, the agenda has worded the items with Cooper’s and Booth’s names in them.

During the regular meeting Monday night, there was no police department report. Frank Cardoza, a reserve officer who was not certified at the time of the July 15 special meeting when Cooper and Booth were terminated, was the only officer during the intervening period.

Also, during the regular meeting, the trustees voted to have the time period allowing loud sounds and noises as noon to 10 p.m.

Gene Heflin was sworn in as the town’s new treasurer. He replaced Steve Walden, whose resignation was approved by the board on July 15.

The trustees all voted to allocate a $2,500 donation from The Community State Bank to the fire department.

Braxton Shatswell was unanimously approved as a new volunteer firefighter.

The trustees all approved an interlocal purchase order for the purchase of a fire engine.

Also, the trustees all voted to pay Baggs Body Shop as total of $3,980.72 to pay for repairs to the police truck.