PALESTINE, Ill.—Palestine police chief Jeff Besing has released this information as of this morning on the situation with former Palestine officer Josh Green:
Chief Jeffrey S. Besing received a letter of resignation on Sunday, March 23rd, 2014 from Palestine Police Officer Joshua L. Green indicating that he was resigning from his full time police officer position indicating that his last day of employment was March 18th, 2014.
There are no immediate plans of filling the patrol officer position left vacant by this resignation at this time.
It’s our understanding that if there IS a “letter of resignation” submitted, it was forced.
Besing at the early August 2012 meeting of the Bellmont village board, which he attended at their behest, regarding forming their own police agency.
The legality of what occurred with the situation yesterday is still up for debate. Decisions of employment can’t be made on a Sunday (must be done on a regular business day, and during meeting hours), and must be made with the approval of the full board.
We like Besing, but it appears this presser this morning is part of the butt-covering move going on with Green’s employment, because this is NOT what occurred yesterday; we stand by our sources on it.