Fired Police Chief's wife takes Hiawatha Commissioners to task
04/27/2022

(KNZA)--Strong words, directed at the Hiawatha City Commission regarding the controversial termination of former Hiawatha Police Chief John Defore, were heard during Monday's meeting of the Commission.

The comments delivered by Amiee Defore follow an extensive investigation by the Brown County Attorney's Office, made public in March, which found that Commissioners Evan Woehlecke and Brian Shefferd, along with Mayor Bill Collins, violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act when they voted to terminate Defore without warning in December.

Amiee Defore called the firing “illegal” and criticized the motivations and fact-gathering of the three members found guilty of the violation, calling their actions “a disgrace to the city of Hiawatha.”

Defore also refuted the crime statistics that were shared by Commissioner Brian Shefferd at a March meeting of the Commission, saying the website they were taken from was inaccurate and not comprehensive.

Prior to Defore’s comments, the Commission heard from Richard Tesoriero, who revisited his concerns regarding the more than $4 million streets improvement project that he first shared last July.

Tesoriero said he was seeking an update on where the project stood at, adding he didn't feel residents were getting answers from the city.

Mayor Bill Collins said the project hasn't been closed out, adding that everything has been turned over to the city attorney.

Commissioner Becky Shamburg said without the city attorney present, she didn't know what they are allowed to say, and suggested that Tesoriero submit a list of questions.

Tesoriero said the project is less than a year old and already pot holes have developed on Miami Street. In addition, he said he counted more than 120 cracks on a section of 12th Street, asserting his belief that the project should last 30 years.


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