May 26, 2015
Duggar Political Pal Wants Chief Who Handed Over Police Report Fired
EDGE READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Following revelations last week of multiple unreported incidents of molestation involving Josh Duggar that resulted in his resignation from the Family Research Council and prompted TLC to remove "19 Kids and Counting" from its line up, an Arkansas state senator is calling for the Springdale police chief who handed the 2006 police report as part of a Freedom of Information Act request from In Touch Weekly to be fired.
Local Arkansas TV station KFSM reports that republican state Sen. Bart Hester is crying foul over the release of the Duggar police report from 2006, claiming that the girls who were allegedly molested by the reality TV star as minors have been re-victimized. He said that police chief Kathy O'Kelley should be held accountable for turning over the report which he see's as a reckless action
"The law to protect minors' identities is not a suggestion," Hester, pictured, said Saturday. "So sad to see the person charged with protecting the community being so reckless and irresponsible. I believe it is unavoidable that the Springdale police chief should be terminated. She has re-victimized these young ladies."
In spite of the Senator's cries to have O'Kelley removed from office, Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse is standing behind the police chief.
"From every indication I have the chief and city attorney reluctantly did what they had to do to comply with the state FOI (freedom of information) law," Sprouse said Saturday.
Although it appears that Springdale officials operated within the letter of the law by releasing the police report with the names of the victims redacted, Hester is unwavering in his opinion that there will be trouble for the city and its police chief down the road.
"The city of Springdale's liability seems endless on this," he said. "I certainly anticipate criminal charges against Chief O'Kelley."
O'Kelley has previously announced that she plans to retire as police chief on June 30.
Hints of Duggar cronyism came from Arkansas Times blogger Max Brantley who wrote:
"Until yesterday, the Duggar clan and its allies such as Huckabee, Hester and Jon Woods had little concern for victims, but only for the unflattering attention to the Duggar family."