The City of Libby will not be looking for a new police chief.
According to a Tuesday, Dec. 20 news release from Libby Mayor Peggy Williams, Chief of Police Scott Kessel will return to duties on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
Williams wrote in the release that, “On Nov. 21, 2022, three employees resigned abruptly expressing dissatisfaction with workplace conditions. As a result, the city initiated its own investigation, which included interviews of current and former employees and a review of other relevant evidence. As is common for investigations of this type, the city took the additional step of placing Libby City of Police Chief Scott Kessel on administrative leave until the investigation was completed.
"The investigation did not indicate any actionable violations of law or policy.
that there were any violations of laws or policies to support termination of the chief of police.”
Kessel has been police chief since February 2017. He joined the force in 2015.
The three former officers, Sgt. Chris Pape and officers Ian Smith and Cody DeWitt, each resigned on Monday, Nov. 21, according to city attorney Dean Chisholm. The news was not announced by city officials until its Dec. 5 meeting after a social media post revealed the information on Dec. 3.
According to the news release, recruitment for officer positions are posted locally with the Libby Job Service.
Officers Ron Buckner and Joshua Brabo remain on the department.
In other business related to the police department, Libby City...
The woman who accused Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 years old has fully recanted her allegations, and apologised for the “immense pain” she caused the rapper and his family, including wife B...