The Poplar Bluff City Council concluded over 100 hours of investigation into police misconduct and handed down its decision on this day in 1974. In 1924, two Southeast Missourians are themselves investigated in separate, nonfatal shootings over alcohol and jealousy.
100 years ago
July 12, 1924
• Southeast Missourians were involved in two nonfatal shootings over 24 hours.
Yesterday, Clay Gibson of Cardwell was shot in front of a Paragould, Arkansas home after an altercation. Gibson refused to disclose the reason for the shooting, but homeowner Bob Wren and his wife said Gibson was drunk and came to their house for more alcohol. Receiving none, he fired his shotgun at the building. Mrs. Wren was reportedly hit and both Wrens returned fire. Bob Wren hit Gibson in the with a shotgun blast and he was hospitalized with eight pellets in his skull and brain.
His condition is serious, but he could answer questions this morning. He claimed he remembered being shot but didn’t recall shooting at the house.
In Poplar Bluff this morning, a romantic entanglement devolved into violence near the Frisco train tracks. Divorcé Pete Johnson is wanted by police for shooting Henry Thomas twice in the leg after Thomas “got sweet” with his new girlfriend. Thomas was hit in the back of his knee and calf.
The Daily Republican stated Johnson fled town but agreed to return and give himself up.
75 years ago
July 12, 1949
• The Poplar Bluff office of the Division of Employment Security has reported only four fraud cases from veterans’ unemployment benefits, the Daily American Republic stated.
The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act ends on July 25, and the government continues its crackdown on WWII veterans who apply for unemployment benefits while working. Statewide, 290 cases have been reported since January of this year. Of the four cases in the Poplar Bluff region, one is in court and the other resulted in a conviction. The maximum sentence for G.I. fraud is a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
50 years ago
July 12, 1974
• Poplar Bluff City Council has concluded its investigation into the police department after over 100 hours of research, interviews and deliberation. It announced its decisions today: two policemen, one of them the chief, are demoted for misconduct and two officers who petitioned for the investigation are suspended for talking to the media.
Former Chief of Police Bill Pierce was reduced in rank to major for “failure in providing strong leadership and enforcement of the rules.” He will serve as acting chief of police while a replacement is sought.
Lt. Haywood “Dynamite” Harris was demoted to sergeant for beating a prisoner in 1973, and the council has turned over all information on the incident to the FBI.
Of the four officers who petitioned the council to investigate, only two remain. Patrolmen Larry Bacon and Eddie Crook resigned earlier this week because the investigation covered only one episode of misconduct, the reported beating by Harris. Patrolmen Steven DePriest and Bill Taylor have been placed on unpaid leave for a week followed by six months probation for discussing the allegations with the media. A statement read: “...a member of the Police Department shall not write or furnish material concerning police matter for publication or broadcast without first pursuing and exhausting all available procedures and remedies as provided for in the department and City government.”
Other, unnamed officers will receive a “strong reprimand” from the city manager.
DePriest, Taylor, Bacon and Crook petitioned the city to investigate the department in June, claiming their superiors ignored multiple complaints of officer misconduct. To prevent this in the future, the council is initiating “numerous departmental corrective actions” and establishing a board to hear officer grievances.