A Springfield Fire Department battalion chief has been placed on paid leave after being arrested earlier this week in Sherman. Chad Bates is accused of confronting and threatening a Sherman cop as the cop was investigating an unrelated case.
That officer had previously investigated Bates on an allegation of child abuse, according to the Illinois Times… and Bates has had other disciplinary issues in the department.
But a Sangamon County judge ruled last month that Bates had been improperly removed from the department’s promotions list, and as a result he was promoted to battalion chief in late May.
Fire Chief Allen Reyne says there will be no further comment on the status of Bates until the investigation is complete.