Laxton Appointed New Chief Of Police

Oneida, TN (2010-08-19) Long time lawman Darryl Laxton has been named the new Chief of the Oneida Police Department. He will take over the helm of the department upon the effective date of the resignation of Chief Mike Cross, who will leave his post in the coming days to assume his new role as Sheriff of Scott County.

On a 3 to 2 vote with Vice Mayor Cecil Anderson and Alderman David Lowe casting dissenting votes, the Oneida City Council approved a motion by outgoing Alderman Jeff Tibbals to make Darryl Laxton the Town’s new Chief of Police. Laxton will assume the role currently held by Mike Cross, who has been the Town’s top cop for the last fifteen years. Cross will resign later this month to pursue his new assignment, Sheriff of Scott County. Cross was elected earlier this month and will assume his new duties on September 1, 2010.

Laxton’s appointment followed several minutes of contentious discussion between Mayor Jack Lay and the Board of Aldermen, especially between Lay and Anderson. At the onset of discussion regarding the appointment of a new Chief, Anderson was adamant about publishing notification of the vacancy and allowing all potential candidates to apply for the job. Lay, who later resolved to the possibility the Board could advertise the job, fired back, declaring the general public was aware of the pending vacancy, given the general knowledge that Cross had been elected and would leaving his employment at the Town.

During the discussion, Anderson motioned to advertise the position for ten days. The measure failed on a 2-2 vote with Alderperson Sharon Miller and Lay casting the dissenting vote. Alderman Jeff Tibbals, who likewise will be leaving the city for his new role as County Mayor, abstained. He later changed his vote, joining the dissenters.

Although the vacancy hadn’t been advertised, Lay had received two applications for the position; one from Laxton, the other from Howard (Butch) Morris. In addition to those, Lay further acknowledged the receipt of ten applications by persons desirous of becoming an officer for the Town, including current Acting Sheriff Bobby Ellis, who lost his write-in election bid for the Sheriff’s job to Cross.

Tibbals, citing morale among the officers and the current staffing situation at the department, eventually made a motion to hire Laxton, which was seconded by Miller.

Over the course of the last three years, the Oneida Police Department has lost several officers who accepted higher paying jobs, going from a peak of 14 officers to just 7 with the resignation of Cross. Given its budget woes and the possibility of Cross being elected, the Town had been reluctant to add officers; however, the department is currently at a turning point. “(We) have run very, very thin knowing we might face reorganization,” commented Lay.

Even with a Chief in place, the ranks of the Oneida Police Department will never return to its previous peak. In response to a question posed by Anderson regarding the total number of officers in the future, Lay replied, “Not over ten, but that’s a bare minimum.” Despite the Mayor’s reply, some aldermen would like to see the ranks returned to at least twelve.

Chief Cross did not attend Thursday night’s meeting. He was in Nashville attending required training for his new position.