By John Dobberstein, Editor
A week after Broken Arrow Police Chief Lance Arnold was put on administrative leave due last week due to investigation of “operational concerns,” many residents and police officers are voicing support for the city’s top cop.
Many of his supporters attended the Broken Arrow City Council meeting Tuesday to express disappointment on how the decision about Arnold was handled. Two speakers brought up Arnold’s support and empathy when a police cadet, 40-year-old Frank Leinen, died last year during the second day of his Broken Arrow Police Department training.
The Fraternal Order of Police Local 170, which represents the rank-and-file officers at BAPD, has said it respects the process of a fair and impartial investigation but criticized how the announcement of the action with Arnold was handled, saying BAPD employees were given no advance word and learned about it at the same time as the public and news media.
Due to it being a personnel issue, city staff, Arnold’s fellow police officers and the City Council are not making public statements about any allegations being investigated. But some feel the silence has allowed rumors and speculation to spread on social media.
“I’m not here to talk to you about a thin blue line. I am here to talk to you about what social media and statements about not making statements can do to a man’s character,” said Brian Cathey, who described himself as Wyans’ best friend.
“Making remarks about not making remarks about an issue that nobody knows anything about has subjected a man with 30 years of experience in law enforcement to scrutiny beyond anything anybody should be accused of.
“Lance Arnold’s a good man. I’ve seen it firsthand. I’m not a cop, but I’ve seen the impact he has on those beneath him and those beyond him. And I hope you all take that into serious consideration as whatever’s going on moves forward.”
Leinen’s mother, Dawn DeArmon, said Arnold showed up for her daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren to provide support “from day one,” after Leinen’s death, even during the 1-year anniversary of the tragedy last month when her youngest granddaughter was struggling with grief.
“Lance stuck around he helped her he got her off the floor got her to the table and helped her complete her homework because she needed to complete it and she was done emotionally that day,” DeArmon said.
“He didn’t have to do that. He is the chief of police and that’s not in his job description, but he sat there with that little girl and made sure she was okay on one of the most difficult days she’d ever had.”
DeArmon also said Arnold “hasn’t done anything wrong” in his 30-year law enforcement career.
“I haven’t known him for very long. But I will stand behind this man. And I will continue to stand by him. And I think that this council should too. You can look in this room, and you can see every single police officer here that believes it. They don’t believe that he has done anything wrong.”
City Manager Michael Spurgeon told the Sentinel that matters involving police operations were brought to Assistant City Manager Norm Stephens in late September, “that were very concerning to him” and Stephens brought those concerns to Spurgeon.
Spurgeon said he had several meetings with Assistant City Manager Kenneth Schwab and the city’s attorneys to look at the matters presented to them. Schwab oversees the city’s Public Works and Community Development operations and Stephens oversees employee administration.
“With everything that I have at this time, as well as the advice of counsel, I decided that the next best step would be to conduct an investigation into the matters that were brought to my attention,” said Spurgeon. Spurgeon confirmed the probe would be led by an outside entity but declined to identify the person or entity. Deputy Chief Scott Bennett has been tapped to lead BAPD while the investigation continues.
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