Embattled Hillsboro Mayor Dennis Bradley resigned from his post Monday night at the start of what was to be his impeachment hearing.
Two weeks earlier, the Hillsboro Board of Alderpersons voted to hold the hearing and pursue Bradley’s impeachment in part because of his Feb. 5 arrest for allegedly harassing and assaulting a Jefferson County deputy.
A crowd of about 25 – large for a Hillsboro board meeting – barely had time to sit down after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before Bradley told the board he wished to read a letter of resignation.
Bradley, 65, who was elected as mayor last April, began reading his resignation letter by saying, “One year ago, you placed your faith in me to change the operation of the city of Hillsboro. You asked that business as usual be changed to business for the betterment of citizens. I am saddened that I was not able to fulfill the great opportunity you bestowed on me.”
He went on to blame the board for what he considered roadblocks to his goals.
“From day one, the alderpersons made it clear that the old guard and their operation of city government was not to be disrupted,” he read.
■ Bradley also claimed in the letter that he tried to be a champion for lower-level police officers. “They proudly serve the city. But their voices have not been heard. Fear of retaliation was rampant among the patrol officers if they spoke out against their supervisors. As mayor, I gave them the opportunity to publicly address their concerns, again, only to be silenced by your Board of Aldermen,” he said.
■ He said family and friends urged him to fight the impeachment, but he decided against it over financial concerns for himself and the public. “I cannot in good conscience spend an inordinate amount of money required in legal defense nor justify the taxpayers footing the bill for legal fees because a council objects to the direction of their executive in chief.”
■ He said he plans to continue to monitor the actions of Hillsboro municipal government. “But, be advised, while I may no longer be mayor, my voice along with the voices of my fellow citizens, will not be silenced. We will demand that the elected aldermen be responsive to the citizens, and I encourage every person to vote in the next election and drain the swamp of those individuals who believe in business as usual and return the power where it belongs, to the citizens of the city of Hillsboro,” he said.
City attorney Bianca Eden told the board members they needed a vote if they wanted to accept the resignation letter, and Ward 3 Alderperson Scott Gowan said, “Despite its glaring inaccuracies, I move to accept the resignation.”
Board members approved the motion 8-0.
After the meeting, no board members would comment about Bradley’s resignation, and Bradley said he had no additional comment other than he does not know if he will ever run for office again.
On Feb 12, when the board set the impeachment hearing, it listed grievances against Bradley, including the alleged attack on the deputy. The board also accused the mayor of revealing information from a closed executive session to an employee, going against city policy concerning employee grievances and discussing confidential personnel matters with an attorney not retained by the city.
On Tuesday, Eden said the alderpersons must decide how and when to fill the mayor’s position. “(Filling the mayor’s position) requires a nomination from the board and a majority vote of all the board to confirm,” Eden said. “(The new mayor) could be anyone from the board or outside the board (who meets municipal requirements for mayor).”
Sheriff’s Office accusations
The incident that led to Bradley’s arrest began at about 2 p.m. Feb. 5, when a deputy, whom neither the Sheriff’s Office nor Bradley named, was at a gas station in the 1800 block of Little Brennan Road in High Ridge to get a refreshment, and Bradley allegedly confronted him there, Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said in an email.
Bradley allegedly was “yelling expletives and challenging (the deputy) to a physical confrontation,” Marshak said.
He said Bradley eventually poked the deputy in the chest.
The deputy then told Bradley he was under arrest and ordered him to place his hands behind his back, but he “refused to comply,” Marshak said.
After he was arrested, Bradley was transported to the Sheriff’s Office, booked and released pending application for warrants. When Bradley left the jail, he allegedly walked across the parking lot and stood next to the arresting deputy’s patrol car for a while, Marshak said.
He said Bradley allegedly had been harassing the deputy since 2014 – ever since the deputy arrested one of Bradley’s family members for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Bradley denies harassing or assaulting the deputy. He also said that he didn’t purposely stand next to the deputy’s vehicle, but instead was just waiting for a ride.
After that, the deputy requested an ex parte order of protection against Bradley, which Jefferson County Div. 3 Circuit Judge Dianna Bartels granted on Feb. 6.
Marshak said the Sheriff’s Office is seeking charges against Bradley for fourth-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and stalking/harassment.
As of Tuesday, no charges had been filed.