PINE BLUFF, AR -- Assistant Chief Ivan Whitfield wants to set the record straight: He's on paid leave following a shoot out on 17th Avenue. Investigators traced a gun used by one of the suspects to him. Whitfield's attorney said he didn't even know the gun disappeared from his car until a detective told him about it.
"He explained it to the chief, but the chief decided they needed to go to the mayor to explain to the mayor," said Othello Cross, Whitfield's attorney.
In a statement written by Whitfield and released by his attorney, Whitfield says the meeting with the mayor never happened. He says this is about more than just a missing gun. Before Chief Brenda Davis-Jones placed him on paid leave, Whitfield claims another officer told him about suspicious activity concerning the chief's boyfriend. When he advised the chief, she demanded he reveal his source. He refused.
"He's afraid she's going to fire him, which she does have the power," said Cross.
Whitfield writes before that botched meeting with the mayor, Chief Jones said: "I promoted you and gave you a pay raise." Whitfield responded: "I can't tell you." He said the chief continued by saying, "If you or anybody messes with my two boys or my man you are going down. I mean that."
"The city is retailiating against an officer for doing what I would say he's required to do, is not give up confidential informants," said Cross.
We asked the police chief for her side of this and she refused to comment. No word yet when that investigation will be complete.
