Jacksonville asks judge to stay police chief’s removal

Jacksonville has asked a Pulaski County circuit judge to stay a ruling that temporarily removed the city’s police chief from the position last month.

Judge Alice Gray removed Police Chief Geoffrey Herweg from the job on June 29, pending the outcome of a lawsuit that challenges Herweg’s eligibility, under the Arkansas Constitution, to hold the chief’s position. Gray declined City Attorney Robert Bamburg’s request to immediately stay the ruling but said she would consider a written request.

Bamburg filed a written request Monday. The request says that “the operation of the [Police] Department is and has been thwarted by the Court’s immediate removal of Herweg.” It calls for Herweg to be reinstated while the city appeals Gray’s ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

“I think we need to get back to business,” Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher said Wednesday.