Ex-Casper Police Chief Considered to Lead Evansville Police Force, Sources Say
The police chief of Evansville has been placed on administrative leave, the town's mayor said in an exclusive interview with K2 Radio News on Tuesday.
Jim Wetzel, who was recently fired as chief of police in Casper, is reportedly being considered to lead the police force in Evansville.
Several sources who requested anonymity have told K2 Radio News that Wetzel will likely be interviewed as a potential replacement for Tom Laughrey, the Evansville police chief who was placed on administrative leave Friday.
"He (Tom Laughrey) is on administrative leave," Evansville Mayor Phil Hinds said Tuesday. "No official decisions have been made at this time."
But Hinds said no candidates are being interviewed at this time to replace Laughrey. Hinds declined further comment, saying this is a personnel matter.
Leo Malsom, fire chief of Evansville who was acting in the capacity of a public information officer on Monday, told K2 Radio News the police department has no comment on the matter.
However, Malsom added that he, "wouldn't say the position (of police chief) is open."
Evansville Council Members Doug White and Ernest Blackford have not responded to requests for comment. Messages left for Laughrey at the police department have not been returned, and a message sent to his email listed on the town website was returned as 'undeliverable' Monday afternoon.
--Tom Morton contributed to this story.