Greenfield Board Suspends Police Chief, Purchases Drive Thru Drawer and Audio System

Shannon Taylor, Editor

Greenfield Mayor Cindy McAdams recommended that the board hire Assistant Police Chief Jeff Matthews as an Interim Police Chief at the Dec. 12th city board meeting. This was due to Police Chief Daniel Smith’s recent arrest on Dec. 10. 

According to a press release by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a Greenfield address in reference to a physical domestic regarding Smith.

Upon arrival, contact was made with two victims, Smith's wife and daughter who gave verbal and written statements that Smith had been drinking heavily and was intoxicated before the physical assault had occurred.

Smith’s wife had minor but observable wounds on her arm, cheek and foot. Smith’s daughter witnessed the altercation and reported that she had been struck in the back of the head.

"Under the circumstances, I would like to recommend Assistant Police Chief Jeff Matthews as the Interim Police Chief for the time being. Mr. Smith has to go to court Jan. 3 and then we can move on after that," McAdams stated.

Smith has been "suspended with pay pending a review after his court date. It won't cost the taxpayers any money because his pay was already accounted for in the budget," tells a source.

The board also discussed the purchase of a new drive thru drawer. McAdamas said that the city has been having issues with it and they had someone come to look at it and the manual part of the drawer is giving them issues. 

City Recorder Jerica Spikes said the drawer quit on them one day the previous week and a technician came to put a manual lever in but stated that it was hard to use and she did not know how long it would last.

Spikes said she was able to get two quotes for a new drawer and audio system, one from QSI totaling $6,835 and one from Diebold which totaled $11, 299. Spikes said it would be considered an emergency purchase because it’s a product they need for their customers, especially this time of the year, she stated. Spikes said they needed it ordered as soon as possible because of a possible waiting period.

Spikes said there was money in the American Rescue Plan that could be used because it was “considered to be renovations to the building,” Spikes stated. It would not take away from any money the city had set aside for anything prior. QSI stated that they could have the product to them within the month. The company is local out of Jackson.

A motion was made and passed unanimously. 

The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m.