Pevely Police Chief Charles “Tony” Moutray, who’s been on administrative leave since early January, is resigning from the job effective March 31, Mayor Stephanie Haas announced after Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
Haas said Moutray’s attorney, Allison Sweeney, worked out a separation agreement for her client with city attorney Sean Westhoff earlier that day, and then Westhoff informed board members about the agreement during a closed meeting held before the regular meeting.
The board did not vote to accept Moutray’s resignation, but Haas said she expects an official vote on the matter at a future meeting.
Ward 1 Alderman Steve Markus said Moutray had been on paid leave, but no longer will receive pay following the announcement of his impending resignation. Moutray was being paid a $55,000 annual salary as of April 2018.
“He’ll be paid his comp time owed and vacation time owed, but his salary stopped with the resignation (notification),” Markus said.
Moutray referred questions to his attorney.
Sweeney said Tuesday she could not confirm the financial aspects of the separation, but submitted a written statement on Moutray’s behalf.
“Given everything that has happened between the city of Pevely and Chief Moutray over the last 18 months, the parties came to the realization that there was no realistic way for the chief to return and effectively run the department,” she said in the statement. “After much reflection and thought, the chief determined it was in the best interest of the community, the city and most importantly his officers for him to part ways with the city.”
On Jan. 7, the board voted 7-0 to place Moutray on paid administrative leave amid allegations about a domestic dispute at his Festus-area home in November 2018.
Moutray’s wife, Dawn Moutray, contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 17, 2018, alleging she had been injured during an altercation with her husband.
No charges were filed against Moutray, but after information about the alleged dispute got out, it drew attention from a wide range of people, including representatives from anti-domestic abuse organizations.
Moutray has not commented about his wife’s allegations or about his administrative leave. However, Sweeney said Jan. 8 that her client had done nothing to deserve being removed from his position.
Also at the Jan. 7 meeting, the board hired attorney Gregory P. White to investigate the domestic abuse allegations against Moutray. That investigation was still underway as of Monday, but likely will end now that Moutray is resigning, Markus said.
“We didn’t talk about it (during executive session),” he said. “I’d say the investigation will stop because he’s gone. That’s my personal opinion.”
According to court records, Dawn Moutray filed for divorce from Moutray Feb. 20 in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Miller leads Pevely Police
Haas said Capt. Larry Miller, who has been in charge of Pevely’s Police Department since Moutray was placed on leave, will continue to lead the department until a new police chief is named.
“We will go out for applications once the Police Personnel Board establishes the requirements,” she said.
Miller said he plans to apply for the job.
He said the department has operated smoothly despite Moutray’s abrupt departure.
“We’ve been running fine,” he said. “Just moving right along, getting things accomplished.”