Tabor remains acting chief and deputy chief

The Morning News
Local News for Northwest Arkansas
Tabor Remains 'Acting Police Chief'
By THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Greg Tabor, Fayetteville's deputy police chief and "acting chief of police," did not get the employment contractual agreement he'd worked out with former Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody.
Instead, Tabor and Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan worked out a different plan where Tabor will officially hold the title of "deputy chief," while holding the responsibility and salary of police chief.
"I wanted to continue as chief, and he (Mayor Jordan) wanted me to continue, and this was a compromise on both our sides," Tabor said Monday.
Tabor stepped down on New Year's Eve as police chief because he and incoming Mayor Jordan had not been able to settle on a contract agreement where his retirement would be protected should the city ask him to leave. As police chief, the leading law enforcement officer in Fayetteville serves at the will of the mayor.
Tabor has some 25 years with the city -- roughly three years to go before he's fully vested in the state police and fire retirement fund. The contract was a way of protecting that retirement.
Jordan always maintained he was fully satisfied with Tabor's job performance, but was resistant to setting a precedent where city employees were given particular employment contracts.