Hot Springs chief of police put on leave

Hot Springs Chief of Police Tim Coleman was put on leave last week, but nobody is saying why.

“I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to lawyer up. I'm not allowed to say one word,” said Hot Springs Mayor Renea Keough, when asked why she put Coleman on paid leave. She said she was advised by the town's attorney Mark Russell not to say anything because there is an ongoing investigation into Coleman's action.

Russell, a deputy attorney for Lake County, could not be reached for comment. Repeated phone calls and messages to his office were not returned.

Sanders County Sheriff Gene Arnold said the sheriff's office is investigating two incidents involving Coleman, but said he could not comment on them because the investigation was still ongoing. He said no charges have been filed at this time.

Keough said that Jim Matthews, who was officially made the Hot Springs second full-time police officer at the Hot Springs March town council meeting, will take over Coleman's duties while he is on leave. Matthews had already filled in as the police chief while Coleman was at the academy last fall. Keough said their reserve officer, Todd Schauls, will work more hours and the Sanders County Sheriff's Office will also fill in when needed. Keough would not give a timeline for Coleman's leave.

Coleman was made police chief in September 2006 and completed the 12-week Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena last fall. Coleman's law enforcement experience includes reserve deputying in Mineral County, relief officer work in Hot Springs and a year-long tenure at Deer Lodge as a corrections officer from 2005-06.

Coleman's job may not be the only one in Hot Springs in jeopardy. A petition for the recall of Keough has been started. The petition was started by Hot Springs resident Deanna Peters. Peters did not want to comment on the petition, but confirmed she did start it Friday. She said that as of Monday about 100 people had signed it.

Hot Springs Town Council President Trudy Berge said she has received a lot of telephone calls from concerned residents wondering what to do about Keough. She said the majority of the calls supported the recall of the mayor. She said she is trying to assist the residents and give them guidance and direction during this time, although she is uncertain of what exactly needs to be done in this situation. “I don't know what is supposed to be done,” she said.

Keough said the petition is hurtful and an annoyance, but she doesn't let it bother her too much because she doesn't think she did anything wrong. “Considering I went blind last October, it's not the worst thing that's happened to me,” she said. Keough said if she had to speculate why the petition was started, it probably has to do with the chief of police incidents.

Keough was elected mayor in 2005 and isn't up for reelection until 2009. Physical or mental lack of fitness, incompetence, violation of oath of office, official misconduct or conviction of a felony offense are the only basis for recall. A petition to recall Keough must have the signatures of 20 percent of the eligible voters from the 2005 election.