Tarrillion denies city allegation in Facebook post

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Keith Tarrillion, Perryville's recently resigned chief of police, continued to deny any wrongdoing Thursday, even as the clock continued to tick toward a Tuesday meeting in which city officials were expected to endorse his offer to exit in light of allegations of impropriety.

Tarrillion took to the social media website Facebook on Wednesday evening, the same day he turned in his resignation, to grumble about being shut out of the investigation process and not having an opportunity to answer questions.

A news release issued by Perryville officials, stating Tarrillion falsified a police report to obtain almost $5,700 as part of a 2010 insurance claim, is not accurate, Tarrillion wrote on his Facebook page.

"I know the city of Perryville has given a press release which is different from what really happened on that date and with that report," he said. "If the city would ever [have given] me [a] chance to answer questions, as I requested several times, but the city failed to allow me that chance. I would like to think that during any investigation you would give someone the opportunity to defend themselves."

The Perryville Board of Aldermen will decide whether to accept or reject a resignation agreement with Tarrillion at its 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

While neither side is revealing specifics, Trae Bertrand, who is Tarrillion's lawyer, expects the board to approve an agreement that will end Tarrillion's 20 years with the department.

Bertrand said his client's position essentially is that Tarrillion filled out a portion of the report -- a section known as the narrative -- about damage to a hot tub and small table at his own home. Filling out a narrative by an officer in a report on his own property, Bertrand said, is not illegal, although Bertrand agreed it could be considered improper.

Bertrand said Tarrillion denies generating the report and that it never was investigated by another officer.

While Perryville officials say the officer listed on the report denies having been involved in any investigation and wasn't on duty that day, Tarrillion maintains the officer -- not Tarrillion -- filed the bulk of the report.

Bertrand said that the important thing to note right now is that a settlement agreement has been reached.

"We fully expect the board to approve the settlement agreement and as far as we're concerned, the matter's over," Bertrand said.

City officials, meanwhile, continued to defend their position. City attorney Tom Ludwig refuted Tarrillion's claims that the chief had no input. After Tarrillion hired Bertrand, Ludwig said, all communications between the city and Tarrillion went through the lawyer.

"Keith was perfectly free to give us any information through Trae," Ludgwig said. "Keith has made his statement. He is, I guess, putting his side out there. Nothing from his side that I have heard changes the fact that the officer whose name was on the police report had nothing to do with preparing it."

When asked if the news release that lays out allegations against Tarrillion is defining some sort of fraud, Ludwig refused to answer, saying that would be up to a criminal investigator. The information from the investigation will be turned over to another authority, Ludwig said, though it has not been yet. Ludwig said it will be turned over soon -- a matter of days, not weeks, he said.

The investigation was conducted by Paul Nenninger, a former Secret Service agent from Cape Girardeau.

After Tuesday, Perryville officials will turn their eye toward replacing Tarrillion. According to Perryville's ordinances, a vacancy in any elective city office is filled when the mayor convenes a special meeting of the board of aldermen where a successor to the vacant office is selected. The appointed person serves until the next regular municipal election.

Ludwig said he hopes the city is able to move on from the matter after Tuesday.

"I would hope that this matter concludes very quickly and the board and the city are allowed to move forward with working to improve the city," Ludwig said.

Ludwig did not respond to a Sunshine Law request filed by the Southeast Missourian on Thursday, asking for specifics of the resignation agreement, board meeting minutes and other evidentiary documents the city may have in relation to the investigation.

The request was sent Thursday afternoon, and the law gives officials up to three days to respond, though record keepers are required to allow access as quickly as possible.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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215 N. West St., Perryville, MO