Former Norway Police Chief James A. Preacher, whose firing sparked a protest rally, has been hired to fill the same role in Ehrhardt.

Ehrhardt Town Council voted unanimously to hire Preacher as the town's new police chief. Preacher began his new job Wednesday, Mayor Billy Stanley said.

"The council was impressed with his experience and tenure in Norway for 17 years," Stanley said. The town of Ehrhardt has two other officers who will work under Preacher.

On July 5, Preacher was fired as police chief by Norway Mayor Brad Fogle via a hand-delivered letter detailing reasons for his ouster. Fogle claimed that Preacher cursed out a town employee and took his police vehicle out of town while off duty.

Preacher dismissed all of those claims and said he did nothing to warrant him being fired. Preacher claims he was fired because of a fallout with Fogle and former Norway Mayor Rose Dukes over missing traffic tickets and a dispute Preacher had with another officer.

Fogle said it was a tough decision, but one he believes was in the best interest of the town. Fogle denied Preacher's request for a hearing before town council, because he said that it was not required by state or town law. Preacher says he should have received a hearing.

On July 9, around 200 citizens held a rally in Norway in support of Preacher and several in the crowd criticized Fogle's actions.

Stanley said the controversial firing had no bearing on the decision to hire Preacher.

"From what we understand about it, it wasn't due to any fault of his own. He's well-qualified," Stanley said.

Stanley said Preacher told town council he was planning on selling his home in Norway and moving to Ehrhardt. Preacher could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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