SHERRILL, ONEIDA CO. -- The City of Sherrill's Police Chief is on a two week paid leave of absence while State Police investigate how his 6 year old grandson got hold of methamphetamine while in his care.
Sherrill's Mayor and City Commissioners convened a special meeting Tuesday evening and immediately went into executive session. After about 20 minutes they emerged from behind closed doors and issued a statement that Police Chief James Hastings is on a two week paid leave of duty. On Friday CNY Central exposed the fact that the chief's 6-year-old grandson suffered a methamphetamine overdose last month while in his care.
Sherill City Manager Bob Comis told reporters, "There's been no suggestion that the chief acted improperly in his duties as police chief but again this is a personal issue that's been consuming a great deal of his time."
Comis also issued a statement saying, "Chief Hastings has, from the beginning, kept the city informed as to the situation involving his family. The chief and I met again today to discuss the effect on the department. It was concluded that the best course for him and the city is that he be given a two week paid leave from his responsibilities with the city. During his absence, the city charter provides that the city manager act in his capacity. It should be abundantly clear that there has not been any report or suggestion to the city that the chief acted inappropriately. The city will continue to monitor and investigate the matter as more information is made available."
State Police and Oneida County Child Protective Services are trying to find out how Chief Hastings's grandson got hold of methamphetamine. Court records show that the chief's son, Jason Hastings, is under suspicion. Family Court issued a temporary order barring the grandson from entering Chief Hastings's home. Tina Bennet, the attorney representing the little boy's father in a custody dispute attended Tuesday night's meeting. When asked if the decision to place the Chief on leave will put pressure on the official investigations, Bennet replied, "most definitely because we were there from the beginning and there was some hesitancy on the part of the state troopers and police officials to get more involved in this."
The city's decision to put the chief on paid leave of absence comes in the wake of a startling new revelation that the 6-year-old grandson may have been exposed more than once to methamphetamine.
After his son got out of the hospital, Steve Sgarlata took the boy to a Syracuse company that specializes in drug testing. They took a sample of his hair and sent it to a laboratory for analysis. The lab report concludes the boy was exposed to methamphetamine two to four weeks before the February 16th incident that landed him in the hospital. "This needs to be heard and people need to be charged, arrested and put in jail." Sgarlata told CNY Central.
On Friday the Hastings' family attorney Neal Rose said, (people) "should not connect the dots and assume Chief Hastings or anyone in his family had anything to do with this...there's no proof the child had contact with meth at the Chief's home." Chief hastings did not attend the meeting at City Hall but Comis said he agreed to the paid leave of absence.
