In the last two years, Craig City Council has found itself behind closed doors from the public in executive session 14 times out of 58 total city council meetings.
Of those 14 times, a majority of the executive sessions have dealt with council receiving legal advice on a civil suit from a local man against the police department for excessive use of force, while others have dealt with personnel matters, according to the last two years of council packets dating back to January 2019.
It is unclear if the three most recent executive sessions from Feb. 9, 2021 may have had a hand in Craig Police Chief Jerry DeLong’s reported resignation. City Manager Peter Brixius said DeLong submitted his resignation on Feb. 8, but one of the executive sessions was “to discuss City Attorney recommendations regarding use of force and implementing policies and practices to reduce liability.”
Jerry DeLong was appointed Craig chief of police in February 2018.
Craig Chief of Police Jerry DeLong submitted his letter of resignation this week, according to City Manager Peter Brixius.
According to Brixius, DeLong’s resignation will be effective March 1.
News of the resignation came Thursday, with the three-year chief stepping down from the department, of which he was a member for 35 years total.
“We wish Jerry well,” Brixius said. Brixius later declined to comment further on the move, stating personnel matters within city employment are confidential.
When asked for comment Thursday afternoon, DeLong declined, stating that his legal representation has advised him not to comment on the issue.
The Craig Police Department will receive four new patrol vehicles and a new records management software in the coming months following two bid approvals for the equipment by councilors Tuesday night.
Councilors unanimously approved a $125,873 bid to Victory Motors for four new four-door, four-wheel drive short-bed pickups for the patrol division, and unanimously approved a roughly $37,014 bid to EForce for a new records management software. In total, the two bids came out to about $162,887..
According to Craig Police Chief Jerry DeLong, the four new trucks will replace four vehicles over 10 years old within the patrol division.
Craig Police Capt. Bill Leonard stated that the patrol vehicles usually have to be replaced every decade, or 90-100,000 miles.
New Craig Police Department School Resource Officer Ryan Hampton (center) is sworn in Tuesday night by City Judge Jay Cranmer Tuesday night. Craig Police Department Chief Jerry DeLong looks on.
After eight years as a Patrol Deputy in the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, Ryan Hampton swapped out his badge for a new one, joining the Craig Police Department as the new School Resource Officer.
Hampton was officially sworn in Tuesday night at the city council meeting by City Judge Jay Cranmer, marking his first official day with the police department.
He will be replacing one of the department’s current SROs, Bobby Adler, who will be leaving the department at the end of the month.