Former Matoaka Police Chief John Sommers uses photos of Mayor Todd Colona’s properties as props as he speaks during a special public hearing at the Matoaka Town Hall Tuesday.
MATOAKA — At one point chanting “Bring John back! Bring John back!” Matoaka residents and people from surrounding communities called on Matoaka’s town council to reinstate the former chief of police.
The council conducted a public meeting Monday afternoon to receive public input about the dismissal of Matoaka Police Chief John Sommers. Sommers was dismissed on Dec. 17.
Mayor Todd Colona said earlier that Sommers had been fired because he had not completed law enforcement training at the West Virginia State Police Academy. Sommers has countered that he was fired because he was enforcing town code relating to cleaning up debris from an August fire that destroyed several of the town’s buildings owned by Colona.
Town Attorney Phillip Ball told the audience that the meeting’s purpose was to get public comment about Sommer’s being fired. Personnel matters dealing with a public employee cannot be discussed in public, he stated.
Residents repeatedly asserted that they do not feel safe.
“Nobody feels safe,” said Matoaka citizen Valerie Young. “People have presents in their homes, and people are afraid.”
Sommers addressed the council and displayed a portfolio of photographs showing buildings in Matoaka.
“Basically, what happened was there was an active investigation into Mr. Todd Colona, the mayor, involving state laws as well as city ordinances,” Sommers said. “When that came to his attention, the next day he fired me…