City of Durant releases statement in ongoing feud with Cedar County Sheriff

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On Wednesday, June 19, the Advocate News received the following statement from Durant City Attorney Julie Degen-Sprague

The city has asked me to forward to you this formal statement from the city:

"The city of Durant is aware of allegations against its police department by the Cedar County Sheriff and the Sheriff's ban of all officers of the city of Durant from the Cedar County Jail for Durant arrestees where the offense occurred in the portion of Durant located in Cedar County.

Durant officials have investigated the statements of the Cedar County Sheriff and, based on the information, the city has gathered from the Department of Public Safety on this matter, the city as an employer of Officer (Robert) Smith did not have access to any personnel information of Officer Smith about his past employment other than he retired from the Iowa State Patrol in good standing. According to the Iowa State Law Enforcement Academy, Officer Smith continues to be a fully certified peace officer.

The city has learned, from various county officials, that Officer Smith's cases are currently being fully prosecuted by the relevant county attorneys where the crimes occurred and to date none of Officer Smith's cases have been dismissed.

Scott County and Muscatine County are currently taking any Durant arrestees who have committed crimes in the Cedar County portion of Durant. Important to note is that when an arrestee is being housed in a county jail, it does not require the Sheriff of that county to vouch for the credibility or integrity of the officer making the arrest, it merely requires the Sheriff to house the arrestee.

Finally, the Durant city council continues to review the matter and its legal options in this case on behalf of the taxpayers of Durant."

For weeks, as reported in this and other newspapers, Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington has made it clear to the city of Durant that his office will not be accepting any arrests from the Durant Police Department due to the department and its chief, Orville Randolph, keeping Officer Bob Smith on staff.

He’s also made it clear that all members of the Durant PD are banned from the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office and jail. He’s also reportedly told deputies to base Durant area arrests on their observations only and not rely on officers of the Durant PD.

In recent weeks, the city has gotten the OK to take its prisoners to either Muscatine County or Scott County for processing.

Wethington had announced plans in the past to retire in September but recently stated publicly that he has decided not to retire based, in part, due to problems with hiring practices in Durant and ongoing issues with Smith’s wife, Dawn Smith, Chair of the Cedar County Board of Supervisors.

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