Muncey on leave pending appeal decision

Chief Larry Muncey with Madison Police Department remains on administrative leave. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Larry Muncey, Chief of Madison Police Department, remains on administrative leave.

On April 15, U.S. District Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala found Muncey guilty of contempt of court. Muncey’s charges are associated with the civil rights trial for Madison police officer Eric Parker in September 2015.

Mayor Troy Trulock released this statement on April 15: “Following Judge Haikala’s ruling, Mayor Troy Trulock has placed Chief Larry Muncey on administrative leave pending the conclusion of any appeal. The Deputy Police Chief, Major Jim Cooke, a veteran of the Madison Police Department, is the acting Police Chief.”

Haikala fined Muncey for $2,500 and ordered him to pursue special training. Muncey can appeal the decision. The maximum charges would have been a six-month jail sentence and $5,000 fine.

“The Madison Record” asked Trulock for an update on April 21, and he deferred questions to City Attorney Kelly Butler with the City of Madison Legal Department. “Because this is a pending personnel matter, the City has no additional comment at this time,” Butler said.

“The Mayor has not provided much information regarding Chief Muncey’s administrative leave, other than it has occurred and the Chief still has an appeal process he could follow,” Tim Holcombe said. Holcombe represents District 1 on Madison City Council and currently serves as Council President.

“Since this is a matter that ultimately may come before the City Council, at a hearing I would chair, I must refrain from any other comment,” Holcombe said.

“The City Council appoints the Police Chief, but, administratively, he reports day to day to the Mayor. The Mayor could make a recommendation for termination; the ultimate decision authority would be the City Council,” Holcombe said.

After two mistrials, the federal judge acquitted Parker for the incident involving Sureshbhai Patel. The incident occurred in a Madison neighborhood near County Line Road on Feb. 6, 2015. Patel was hospitalized and has partial paralysis.

On June 8 in Limestone County, Eric Parker will be tried for excessive use of force, third degree.