Sallisaw Residents Gather To Criticize Police Chief's Punishment

A Green Country town is outraged after the city council voted unanimously to strip its elected police chief of his supervisory powers.

Some people in Sallisaw not only think it's wrong, they think it's unconstitutional.

State Representative Bill Bennett, R-Sallisaw, organized a town hall meeting in response to the council's decision and attendees discussed petitioning for a recall vote, asking for an audit of the city and possibly requesting a grand jury investigation

"When they did that they basically circumvented the voters and took away their power and they're the ones that put the police chief there," state representative John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, said.

According to CBS affiliate KFSM in Fort Smith, the city is investigating chief Shaloa Edwards because he is accused of taking public money for personal use.

Sallisaw City Manager Bill Baker said the money has since been returned.