St. Albans Police Chief Brent Coates has been temporarily relieved of duty.
Capt. James Agee of the St. Albans Police Department said he was told Coates will be off duty for at least the rest of the week.
"I have been told that I am in charge of the department and am reporting to the mayor," Agee said. "Other than that I don't know anything."
St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway would not comment on the police chief or his status Wednesday. "All I can tell you is we have a personnel matter that is under investigation," Callaway said.
Coates could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Several sources, including one city employee, said allegations of sexual harassment have been made against Coates by a co-worker.
Coates, who went to Poca High School, was hired in January to replace former St. Albans Police Chief Joe Crawford. Coates moved to Florida in 1983, where he joined the Florida Highway Patrol and was last employed as director of the Florida Highway Patrol Academy.
A summary of internal affairs investigations conducted by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, provided by Capt. Mark Brown of the Florida Highway Patrol, shows that Coates was accused of creating a hostile work environment for a fellow employee in 2009. The allegation was ruled unfounded in February 2011, after Coates had been hired in St. Albans.
In that case, a female Highway Patrol officer alleged she unwillingly entered into an affair with Coates for fear of hurting her chances for promotion if she refused.
Florida records also show Coates was disciplined for violating the Highway Patrol's vehicle pursuit policies in 1990 and 1992. In both cases, he received counseling, records show.
Reach Rusty Marks at [email protected] or 304-348-1215.
Copyright 2011 Charleston Newspapers
