WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile: Smartphone,Tablet and SMS text Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter RSS News Feed Email List Tumblr


POLICE CHIEF FIRED
Winfield Police Chief Terminated

Reported by: Send eMail Kristin Keeling
Web Producer: Kristin Keeling
Reported: Feb. 8, 2012 6:18 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 8, 2012 6:35 PM EST


Eyewitness News Photo
Eyewitness News Photo


Winfield , Putnam County , West Virginia

The Winfield Police Chief has been fired, but why he was terminated remains a mystery.
Harrison Lucas' termination comes after 10 years of service in Winfield.

Eyewitness News spoke to Winfield Mayor Randy Barrett who says it's a personnel matter. Mayor Barrett says he gave Lucas a chance to do something when he first came into office, but that was not fulfilled. He says there were a number of reasons for the firing.

The termination comes just one week after Lucas' 18-year old son, Payton, posted inflammatory comments on his Facebook page about the death of Hurricane High student Jacob Ball. Jacob was hit and killed by a train.

In those posts, Payton called Jacob "stupid" for getting hit by the train and said no one liked him. Those comments infuriated a lot of people and some think it could have played a part in why Chief Lucas was fired.

"I've heard stories that the chief's son has done other things in the past, so that was not a surprise when I heard it was him. But it's just a tragic situation and an awful, poor reflection on a lot of people in Winfield," said Putnam County resident, Michel Moffatt.

"I think we ought to know why he got pulled out of office and give us an explanation on what's goin' on about it," said Putnam resident, George Williams.

Eyewitness News tried to talk to Lucas to get his side of the story. He refused to go on camera and said, "I enjoyed working for Winfield for ten years".

Mayor Barrett says he's waiting to address town council next Tuesday before he released details about Lucas' termination.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
SEVERE STORMS
Severe Storms Move Through The Region, Wind Gusts Up To 60 Miles Per Hour
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 9:32 PM EDT
Severe thunderstorms and high winds are moving through ...
Full News Story

FEDERAL GUILTY PLEAS
Two Executives Plead Guilty To Federal Employment Tax Evasion Charges
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 5:54 PM EDT
Two staffing agency executives have pleaded guilty ...
Full News Story

MASON COUNTY LAYOFFS
New Haven Plant To Temporarily Idle Furnace, Lay Off Union Workers
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 21, 2013 5:47 PM EDT
Felman Production LLC plans to temporarily idle one ...
Full News Story



News Summers County Man Dies In Car Crash In Fayette County
May. 21, 2013 5:24 PM EDT
News How Social Media Affects Everyday Lives Of Teens
May. 21, 2013 11:09 PM EDT
News UMWA President Cecil Roberts Among 14 Arrested At Rally In St. Louis
May. 21, 2013 4:47 PM EDT
News Damage To Ashland Bridge Causes Temporary Weight Restrictions
May. 21, 2013 5:03 PM EDT
News Daylong Standoff Situation In Meigs County Ends Peacefully
May. 21, 2013 4:29 PM EDT
News Fire Chief Says Search Almost Complete In Oklahoma
May. 21, 2013 3:47 PM EDT
News Kentucky Man Charged In Connection With String Of Thefts In Ohio
May. 21, 2013 4:04 PM EDT
News Man Serving Larceny Sentence Escapes From Beckley Correctional Center
May. 21, 2013 2:07 PM EDT
News Kanawha Valley Senior Services Hosts Annual Picnic
May. 21, 2013 1:52 PM EDT
News Police Investigating Shots Fired On West Side Of Charleston
May. 21, 2013 5:09 PM EDT
News Register Early, Save Big For Charleston Distance Run
May. 21, 2013 1:20 PM EDT
News Poca High Seniors Help Elementary Students Have Fun With Science
May. 21, 2013 1:09 PM EDT
News WV Kids Enter Contest To Wish West Virginia Happy Birthday
May. 21, 2013 1:05 PM EDT
News Big Names Coming To Clay Center This Fall
May. 21, 2013 12:45 PM EDT
News Scioto County Man Charged In Burglary, Car Break-Ins
May. 21, 2013 12:56 PM EDT
News Members, Coaches Of WVU Baseball Team Lend A Hand In Aftermath Of Okla. Tornado
May. 21, 2013 6:18 PM EDT
News Boyd County Man Charged With Trafficking Heroin
May. 21, 2013 11:32 AM EDT
News Relief Organizations Providing Options For You To Help Residents In Okla.
May. 21, 2013 12:33 PM EDT
News Man Sentenced In Death Of Man Struck By Cinder Block
May. 21, 2013 12:38 PM EDT
News Charleston Man Arrested After Detectives Say Gun, Drugs Found Inside Vehicle
May. 21, 2013 10:47 AM EDT
News State Police Search For Suspect After Meth Lab Discovery
May. 21, 2013 10:01 AM EDT
News Scholarships Set Up To Support Children Of Fallen Officers
May. 21, 2013 10:56 AM EDT
News Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Charleston Child Neglect Case
May. 21, 2013 9:03 AM EDT
News State Division Of Highways Stressing Work Zone Safety
May. 21, 2013 9:29 AM EDT
News Vehicle Spotted Submerged In Guyandotte River
May. 21, 2013 9:10 AM EDT
News Kanawha County Firefighters Battle East Bank Structure Fire
May. 21, 2013 12:43 PM EDT
News One Person Dies In Head-On Collision; Juvenile Seriously Injured
May. 21, 2013 3:31 PM EDT
News Victim Identified In Elkview Murder
May. 20, 2013 11:15 PM EDT
News Federal Agents Investigating Public Officials In Mingo County, Sources Say
May. 21, 2013 10:05 AM EDT
News Students' Prank Prohibits Them From Walking Graduation Night
May. 21, 2013 7:36 PM EDT

Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
Weight on Ashland bridge restricted after wreck

A wreck on an Ashland bridge has prompted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to impose a temporary 10-ton weight limit on the span.
Full Story

Kentucky News
Southern Ky. welcome center on I-24 reopening

An interstate welcome center in southern Kentucky near the Tennessee line will reopen Wednesday and remain open until after the Memorial Day holiday.
Full Story

Ohio News
Weight on Ashland bridge restricted after wreck

A wreck on an Ashland bridge has prompted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to impose a temporary 10-ton weight limit on the span.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 21, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 16, 2013
Shoney's-Charleston, Hibachi, Blues BBQ makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.