Benton Residents React to Police Chief`s Firing

It`s the talk of Benton: Two police chiefs,.both fired by Mayor Rick Holland eight months into his term. Joe Carter says the Mayor is a friend and he supports him. "He`s still a good mayor, "Carter says. "He made the decision and he has to live with it." But even Joe has questions about what many say is an unexpected and unneccessary dismissal. "I believe he maybe fired him unfairly maybe. but nobody knows why he fired him. He hasn`t said why," he says. But others aren`t concerned that the reasons for the Chiefs dismissal remain shrouded in secrecy. "I know that`s your job. The public has a right to know, " says Gail Hill, a friend of the Mayor." But they`re some things we can`t know without people being embarrassed." Chief John Chambers was let go last week after he was handpicked by the mayor himself to lead the Department. Chambers had already retired after years with the State Police. But residents like Gail are still throwing their support behind the Mayor even though he`s now 0 for 2 in the police chief scorecard."i`ve known rick holland for years and i have a lot of faith in his judgement" says hill.Mayor Holland was unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, Chambers tells News 4 Arkansas he plans to appeal to the Benton City Council for his job back.