Jackson police chief hands in resignation

Jackson police chief Marvin Sides resigned Monday in the wake of an investigation that supported sexual harassment claims made against him by a female dispatcher.

Mayor Paul Sander said the city accepted Sides' resignation in the interest of a quick and thorough resolution.

"The message we're sending is that we do not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace," Sander said. "I think that the public wants and deserves to have action on matters such as these."

Attempts to reach Sides for comment late Monday were unsuccessful. He was a 20-year veteran of the department and served the last eight years as chief.

Despite the city of Jackson's efforts to educate employees about acceptable behavior on the job -- which include a training video and reminders enclosed with paychecks -- the incident is the third in a series of sexual harassment-related departures from the city's police and fire staff this year.

Sides' resignation comes months after two former city firefighters, Mark Owens and Joel A. Bockelman, were dismissed for using the city's Internet service to send nude photographs.

A two-day investigation into Sides' case was conducted by clinical psychologist Dr. Steve Cohen of Lee's Summit, Mo. He declined to discuss the specifics of the case but said the city of Jackson did all it could to prevent harassment and handled this incident appropriately.

"People are going to do what they are going to do regardless of the training and the warnings," he said.

Sander said he did not know what the city spent on the two-day investigation conducted by Cohen.

Another investigation into the former chief's alleged misconduct is being conducted by the county prosecuting attorney and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to determine if any criminal charges are warranted, Sander said.

Sides is eligible to draw retirement, Sander said.

"I don't want to downplay his service," he said. "This was not the way he wanted to end his career with the city of Jackson, and it certainly was not the way we would have liked it to end, either."

Capt. Robert Hull will continue as the police department's interim chief, Sander said. In the meantime, the board of aldermen will discuss the subject of replacing Sides and bringing stability to the department.

mwells@semissourian.com

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