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Flomaton Fires Arrested Police Chief, Hires Replacement
March 13, 2012
The Flomaton Town Council voted Monday night to fire Police Chief Geoff McGraw, four days after his arrest in Florida, and promoted their interim chief to job of the town’s top cop.
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant asked the council to terminate McGraw “based on job performance” without offering any specific reason.
McGraw was arrested last Thursday in Escambia County (Fla.) following a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office. McGraw, 30, turned himself in at the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail on a third degree felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He was released on a $5,000 bond.
FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adadm Barrow was arrested by McGraw at home on Old Flomaton Road in Century. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in misdemeanor case, Keith Cameg, spokesperson for FDLE, told NorthEscambia.com. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.
McGraw was placed on an indefinite paid leave February 27 by the Flomaton Town Council.
Also Monday night, the Flomaton Town Council voted to promote Daniel Thompson to the full time chief’s position; he has served as interim chief since McGraw was suspended on February 27.
For more about McGraw’s arrest, click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story.
Pictured top: New Flomaton Police Chief Daniel Thomspon (far right) listens as Mayor Dewey Bondurant (far left) speaks during a town council meeting Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
31 Responses to “Flomaton Fires Arrested Police Chief, Hires Replacement”
Congratulations Chief Thompson. I feel like you were the one should have had this position in the first place and all of this could have been avoided. I know you will do a great job cause you have always carried yourself in a professional way on and off the job. Good Luck Chief Thompson.
To Start With, It Was The Tedders House That McGraw Came Too.Second McGraw was the one carryin his gun around pointin it n threatin to shoot people. third it was the tedders the got the Florida Law to investage this case ….So I See An Civil Right Suit Coming,,,,So Get Ready Flomaton Because The Tedders Are NOT finished yet.Mr. Dewey Bonmdurant Time For You To Go………
@ Savannah im happy for ur family & i hope eveything goes well…but plz jus dont let this ruin him like McGraw, Flomaton is a very peculiar town like east Brewton & Brewton…i jus pray he will not b treated like the past chiefs & its all based upon the politics aka council, yes their is a big age difference & most of them on the board r older n age & have morals that consist with “ole time beliefs” & the way they think things should b ran like the good ole days…sad part is none of them no nothing bout the law n general they havent had to leave home for 3 months & go to an academy so i have no sympathy for any of them when their clueless.when it comes to law related rules & regulations. & speaking outta facts they have been known to use a professional n law to help with their decisions cause they have not the first knowledge about law until it comes to one of their family members r friends then they wanna change the law to to break the law for one friend/family member…good example years ago the mayors son is pulled over for dui the arresting officer wouldnt drop it cause he was doing his job & guess what he lost his job for doing hia job! & ill close with that!
I believe the dispatch situation is 3 full time and 3 part time. I was under the impression that they only had 6 but if there is another it may just be another part-timer. Not that it really matters…
It will be nice to just drive right through Flomaton, when visiting family up at the Crossroads, rather than taking Pine Barren road to hwy 5 in Canoe, up through Sardine. Chief Thompson I encourage you to attend every LE seminar and class you and your staff have the opportunity to do such.
Congrats to the new chief!!!!! Now…..look up Randy Murph for Deputy Chief,….. get em’ outa retirement, & you’ll clean up Flomaton!!!!
If you all are worried about why there are 7 dispatchers and only five police officers that sounds like a question you all should ask the chief about. Your not going to get your answer on here by wondering why. There is a reason just ask him.
I agree with concerned that is a really great point why more dispatchers than officers? @ me im all for Thompson my point is if ur not a life long resident of Flomaton then u can never make it no matter how much outside citizen support u have! There’s something more to FPD than what we know for some reason the council preys upon young intelligent individuals to take on these “top positions” for bout a year r 2 & then it only takes one bad apple ex: a native of Flomaton whom is either kin r bff with someone of the council to complain cause one of the officers gave their kid , grandchild etc… a dui r some type of citation & its not dropped as they wish & that’s how the cycle starts & then another fine officer will b n jail…jus be careful & watch ya self at all times!
“They have five of the best policemen Alabama can offer. They have seven dispatchers who know their stuff and would help anyone they can within reason.”
Seven dispatchers? More dispatchers than officiers? How many do we need? 2 or 3 shifts a day, 7 days a week, seems like to many to me. Maybe someone can explain this to me.
You guys aren’t asking the right questions. Why would a good police chief come to Flomaton ?
It’s a shame for what has happened to McGraw and to the town of Flomaton, and none of us can change that. But what I can say, is that they now have what they need to become a sufficent police department. They have five of the best policemen Alabama can offer. They have seven dispatchers who know their stuff and would help anyone they can within reason. And they now have a chief who stands for sense and justice, he’s a good man and a good cop. They have an awesome team there. They are not perfect, they make mistakes because they are human, but they all swore an oath, that to the best of their abilites, they would do their jobs responsibly and legally. All I’m asking is that you please bear with them while they clean this mess up, because success doesn’t happen overnight, and they will do their best to become the department we all know they can be.
Cheif Thompson,
You are the man. You can do this job. You know what is expected of you. You have the training. You have the ability. And now, you have the Tahoe.
Take your position seriously ,be professional and set a good example as others have done before you and you will have the respect you deserve.
Bring respect back to the office of Police Cheif of Flomaton, Alabama.
Good luck, small town politics can be very demanding and time consuming. I hope they let you run the department and not interfere with law enforcement decisions and the laws. It does not matter your age, follow the law, be professional at all times and remember perception will be your biggest opponent.
Daniel!surround urself with good leos!!I know u will!!!u got some already there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!congrats!!!!!!!
@what
I just wanted to say thank you for your opinion and everyone one elses. Just because Daniel is not in his 60 does not mean that he is not smart enough to take on this responsability. Daniel is a very smart man and is the right person for the Chief position. He will do the right thing. And for the people that are talking down about him he would still make sure he did the right thing for you if you needed help no matter what you say about him. People need to give him a chance to prove that he is there to stay. For the ones with all the encouragement thank you and keep having faith in him. He needs all of your support.
Congrats Thompson! I couldn’t be happier you got the position you deserve & to show your full potential. I know you will make all
the right decisions and make the town of Flomaton a better place!!! Age has
nothing to do with being Chief! Thompson maybe young but he is the best officer I know and he will do the best job ever!!!! Congrats Thompson!!!
Be careful Daniel they’re setting u up for the kill as well…someone this young shouldn’t take on the “top cop” position! When ur ran out like McGraw then where they gonna go back to the bottom r jail? Think bout it this is a redundant thing flomaton pd has going on starting with the chief before McGraw! Please think bfore u do this!!!
Congrats Daniel… I am so proud of you ! Good luck…I know you will do a fine job…let’s just hope the Mayor lets you ! You are a good man with high morals and that’s what Flomaton needs….I sure don’t envy you though LOL
WOW…LOL…Can anyone please tell me how many Police Chiefs Flomaton has had over the last three years? This is embarrassing and I dont even live there.
by the comments made, it’s business as usual. some are happy and some are not. small town politics usually come down to kin folks. if saban was mayor or police chief you’d have the same mess going on.
Way to go Thompson. I know you will do a great job!! You and Neal are the best two cops in Flomaton. I know you will do great things with this town. Thank you to the Mayor and Council.
Here we go again. Flomaton is yet again the laughing stock. I feel that the council should advertise for the Chiefs position versus just handing it over because the position needs to be filled. Instead of just sticking someone in as the Chief, they should at least attempt to find someone who is well qualified. I’m in no way saying that Thompson is a bad guy; however, as a citizen and a resident of Flomaton, I have my personal concerns over the decision. What little bit I do know, I do not feel that he is qualified enough with the years of experience to hold this type of position. If Thompson is who the Council settles for then I guess that’s what we got, and all we can do is give him a shot. Hopefully, he will be able to handle the job when the real emergency hits. I just hope he is at least smart enough to at least follow one thing McGraw done and that is to keep Chris Neal OUT. Our town does not need police like Chris. I believe Neal and McGraw are two of a kind. Birds of a feather flock together, only difference is Neal was just smart enough to not get in trouble or caught. That is one of the few decisions McGraw made that I completly agree with.
WAY TO GO FLOMATON!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIEF THOMPSON AND THE TOWN OF FLOMATON.
I BELEIVE CHIEF THOMPSON IS AN OUTSTANDING CHRISTIAN YOUNG MAN WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND DESIRES THE BEST FOR FLOMATON. HE ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE THE RESPECT OF FELLOW OFFICERS AND THE CITIZENS OF FLOMATON.
I WISH HIM THE BEST AS HE TRIES TO BOAST THE MORAL OF HIS DEPARTMENT AND OUR TOWN.
McGraw thought he was above the law. Well guess what, he got his butt caught and arrested for a crime, a felony even. Good job Florida.
Flomaton Is a Joke! Let Brewton PD take over. Get the problem out Dewey Bondurant! Here’s your Sign !
The whole town of Flomaton is a joke! I do not know Mr. Thompson but it would seem to me that being the chief of police in Flomaton is a curse of death!! After going through as many chiefs and turn over in the police department one would start to think that the problem may lie elsewhere.
This is not a secure job! It would probably be more secure to be a regular police oficer (without a title). Seems every six months or so Flomaton has a new “police cheif”! I, for one, am sick of hearing about it. They need to tell these people straight up this is “a short term gig”. I’m not saying McGraw didn’t need to go, but has everybody needed to go? If so, y’all need to check yourselves on the type of people you keep hiring.
Since McGraw transported Barrow across state lines, he also should be charged by the Fed’s, so McGraw’s problems may grow. As for Flomaton, don’t spend that surplus revenue that’s in the bank because Barrow is going to get paid through a civil rights violation lawsuit that is surely comming. For Barrow, don’t file in state court because of the cap on damages – instead file in federal court.
Congratulations Chief Thompson.
Congrats Chief Thompson.Now make the ones who rooted for you, proud.Maybe now Flomaton will be in the news for something positive.Best of luck to you.