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'Push us back to the good old boy club' | Leaders criticize 'reappointment' of new Clarksville police chief

Police Chief Mark Palmer has served in the role for the past 12 years.

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — The newly elected town council majority in Clarksville is expected to name a new police chief at their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 2.

Clarksville Town Council Vice President, Democrat Karen Henderson, told WHAS11 News the council will name Capt. Nathan Walls as the new chief on Tuesday.

"This is not a demotion, this is a reappointment which happens when new mayors and councils are elected," Henderson said in a statement to WHAS11 News. "We appreciate Mark Palmer's service as Chief the last 12 years and are looking forward to a new era."

Henderson did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

Credit: Town of Clarksville
Captain Nathan Walls (middle) is expected to be named Clarksville's next police chief.

The town of Clarksville also does not elect a mayor, but rather a town council president. Current president, Democrat Ryan Ramsey also did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Soon-to-be former Republican town councilman Tim Hauber, District 1, openly condemns the decision to remove Clarksville Police Chief Mark Palmer from the post he's held for 12 years.

"Yes, it's a bad decision," Hauber said. "He's brought respect to the community. Accountability, professionalism."

Palmer declined to comment on the matter.

Republican Councilman Bob Stotts, District 5, also disagrees with the Palmer's demotion.

"If you stack up any other resumes to Mark Palmer's, they're going to lose," Stotts said. "Mark Palmer's been [at the department] 33 years." 

Hauber, who lost reelection in November, and Stotts, who won his election, both questions the need for reappointment.

"I don't have any idea what their thought process would be other than it's a return to good old boy politics. That's about all I can say," Hauber said.

"I think it's going to push us back to the good old boy club," Stotts said.

At-large Councilmember Jennifer Voignier said over the past 12 years, Palmer has helped accomplish many things for the town including equipping every officer with body cameras and placing school resource officers in every school.

According to the town of Clarksville's website, Walls has been with the department 14 years, most recently as a police captain since July 2022. He couldn't be reached to comment for this story.

Stotts questioned the council majority's motives for making the move, saying the only reasons they've given for Palmer's demotion is questionable hearsay.

"I haven't met one person has a bad thing to say about this guy (Palmer)," he said.

"We're called to support our leaders and to pray for our leaders," Hauber said. "I will support the town leadership. I won't agree with them though. I guess we can agree to disagree."

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