Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006
Source: Baxter Bulletin, The (AR)
Copyright: 2006 The Baxter Bulletin.
Contact: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2860
Author: Joanne Bratton, Bulletin Staff Writer

COTTER POLICE CHIEF QUITS AFTER BEING ASKED TO TAKE  DRUG TEST

COTTER -- Cotter Police Chief Joe Robison resigned  Tuesday, Mayor Mo 
Mosley said.

"It was more than he was willing to contend with,"  Mosley said.

Mosley asked Robison to take a drug test; and after  Robison 
consulted with his attorney, he declined to  take the drug test and 
resigned, Mosley said.

Robison could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Mosley, who was contacted after business hours, said  The Baxter 
Bulletin could receive a copy of the  resignation letter Wednesday.

Robison was hired as Cotter police chief April 17.

He previously was chief of the Battlefield, Mo., police  department, 
until he was suspended without pay last  year as police investigated 
missing evidence.

Robison was suspended without pay as authorities  investigated 
another police officer for allegedly  stealing a switchblade seized 
during an earlier traffic  stop, according to a story published last 
year in The Springfield News-Leader.

Although Robison was not charged with any wrongdoing,  the city 
council refused to reinstate him to his  position.

Robison was hired at Cotter to replace Ron Weaver, who  stepped down 
from police chief to assistant police  chief in February.

In April, Mosley fired Weaver, citing declining  performance of the department.
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