The Byrnes Mill Municipal Court has been suspended, and the Byrnes Mill Police Department is under investigation following the resignation of city attorney Allison Sweeney, who also is the Byrnes Mill prosecuting attorney.
Sweeney, who has been Byrnes Mill’s attorney since 2011, said she resigned March 1.
She filed a report with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office alleging the department has committed criminal violations.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the Byrnes Mill Police Department on March 2, said Grant Bissell, spokesman for Sheriff’s Office.
“The focus of the investigation has been limited to criminal and other statutory rules enshrined by Missouri state statute and the Missouri Supreme Court to maintain police accountability, oversight and constitutional protections for citizens,” Sheriff Dave Marshak said today, March 9, in a written statement.
“Investigators will send their findings to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the (Jefferson County Circuit Court’s) presiding judge, and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office for review.
“Based on statements by employees to investigators, the Sheriff’s Office strongly recommends the city of Byrnes Mill conduct an independent internal investigation, which to this point has not been initiated. The Sheriff’s Office investigation will not include an internal investigation, which focuses on policy, procedures and practices.
“We will not comment on any evidence that was seized by our office during this ongoing criminal investigation.”
In her letter of resignation to the Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons, Sweeney wrote, “Due to the circumstances identified in the attached memos, the city’s trajectory is no longer compatible with my own moral and ethical values. It is with mixed emotions that my firm tenders its resignation.”
During a phone interview today, Sweeney said she is sad her time at Byrnes Mill has ended this way.
“They hired me when I was a young attorney, and I appreciated that they took a chance on me,” she said. “I was dedicated to the city. I am very disheartened and disappointed in the way that it ended.”
City Administrator Adam Thompson, who began working for Byrnes Mill on Dec. 27, said he would not comment on the Sheriff’s Office investigation.
He said the Municipal Court was suspended because without a prosecuting attorney the city did not meet minimal requirements to operate the court. He said a judge ordered the city to cancel court.
“We can’t take any fines or anything like that on any new cases,” Thompson said.
He said the city is working to hire a prosecuting attorney on an interim basis, adding that the judge will allow Byrnes Mill to reopen its Municipal Court if a qualified interim prosecuting attorney works for the city.
“My hope is that court will resume as normal on Tuesday (March 14),” Thompson said.
He also said anyone who has received a ticket or fine from Byrnes Mill and already has been deposed may pay his or her ticket or fine.
Thompson said the city cannot accept payments for any tickets or fines for cases that have not been deposed, which means either the prosecuting attorney had signed off on it or a judge had ruled on it.
“Our main goal is always to protect our citizens and protect those who come through Byrnes Mill,” he said. “We want to make sure that we give them fair treatment, as far as having a prosecuting attorney there who can prosecute or alleviate any type of violation they may do in the city. We want to make sure we are doing the correct thing.
“We agree with the presiding judge’s order right now. We have been working on it diligently since Sweeney resigned. Our hope is we have this resolved by the next court night and it won’t affect the municipal judicial process very long.”
Byrnes Mill Municipal Court typically is held at 5 p.m. on the second and third Tuesday of each month.