

(Original dash cam video below)

The town of Chelsea, Oklahoma is without a police force this week after the Chief, Assistant Chief and paid patrol officers resigned from their positions following a controversy involving a well-connected local businessman.

Tulsa World reports that on May 3, Officer Nicholas Pappe pulled over a white Jeep because the driver was exhibiting behaviors of a person driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the Jeep was local construction company owner Brian Haggard. According to ABC 8 Tulsa, after Officer Pappe made it clear that he would not be letting Haggard off with a warning, phone calls were placed asking for favors. One of those phone calls was from the town’s Police Commissioner to the Assistant Police Chief, Travis Hogan.

“I was shocked when I received the phone call from the Police Commissioner. I thought he knew better than that. But for him to call me and ask me if I would allow him to leave his home to the traffic stop and pick that individual up and take him home in lieu of even a citation much less an arrest, I find that highly unethical,” Hogan said. Hogan is one of the members of the police force who has since resigned from his position.

Town Administrator Kenny Weast arrived at the scene of the traffic stop and insisted on driving Haggard home without a citation. Undeterred, Officer Pappe continued with the arrest, and, according to Tulsa World’s report, Haggard had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.106 at the time of his arrest. Haggard was charged on May 13 with driving under the influence.

In the weeks following the arrest and leading up to his resignation, Hogan stated there was unrest among the police officers. “My officers have received threats. Myself and the chief have received threats to our jobs,” he said.

Chelsea Police Department Records Clerk Val Donna told Tulsa World that “Rogers County [deputies] are watching the town and taking criminal reports until the department can be shored up.”

KTUL.com – Tulsa, Oklahoma – News, Weather