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Commission hears complaint about police chief’s social-media post; HR and POST processes under way
Summary
Commissioners raised concerns about a police chief's social-media post that included violent threats toward a segment of the population. City Manager Holly Felts said a formal complaint is with HR and the city attorney, and POST (state police standards) would investigate any related public-safety complaints.
A Lewistown commissioner raised concerns about a recent social-media post by the police chief that, the commissioner said, included violent threats toward a portion of the population and called the officer’s ability to enforce the law impartially into question.
"As a public employee who is charged with protecting all Lewistown citizens and enacting unbiased enforcement of the law, I am dismayed by the violent threats he recently made toward a section of the population," the commissioner said, adding that the post "calls into question his ability to provide the unbiased law enforcement that his position of authority requires."
City Manager Holly Felts said the matter has been the subject of a formal complaint and is being handled by human resources in coordination with the city attorney: "...a formal complaint have been turned over to HR and they're working with the attorney on that investigation process." Felts told the commission there are privacy limits in personnel matters but that the process would determine whether discipline or other actions are appropriate.
Commissioners asked whether POST (the state Police Officer Standards & Training body) would be involved. Felts said POST would investigate complaints that meet its threshold, but that local HR handles the initial personnel process. Commissioners discussed whether the commission should issue a public statement reiterating professional expectations; one commissioner suggested a public statement could help restore trust while others said they preferred to let the process run.
Why it matters: Allegations of threatening language by a police leader raise municipal liability and community-trust concerns, and the distinction between internal HR review and POST oversight affects the scope and timeline of any public findings.
Next steps: City staff said HR and the city attorney will continue the review; commissioners may consider whether to release a public statement after the process advances.
