Selmer Mayor Unhappy with Board’s Decision
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A decision to rehire a part-time Selmer police officer has Selmer city officials split on the issue decided by the Selmer Board on Alderman on January 10. “He worked for the police department for a number of years and he made a good employee,” said Alderman Paul Simpson of Selmer. Simpson said the board should have the authority to rehire Michael Gilbert. He said Gilbert was fired from the police force a year ago after officers said he assaulted his wife in September 2010. Court documents show the case was dismissed in October 2010. “The mayor knows and the mayor should get his wish,” said Ronda Copas, a Selmer resident. Documents show Selmer Mayor David Robinson vetoed the board’s decision on January 20. Mayor Robinson said Gilbert should have gone before a selection board which consist of the mayor, vice mayor, police chief, assistant police chief, lieutenant and an investigator. Alderman Simpson said the board feels only officers seeking full-time employment should go before the selection board. “If something happen to his wife, how do we know that the people around here are not going to have it happen to them,” said Copas. The issue comes at a time when Selmer police are investigating Officer Jeremy Wilson. Wilson was arrested earlier this month after officers said he assault his wife at his home in Chester County. Authorities said they hope to complete the internal investigation on Officer Wilson on January 26.
