Former Police Chief Harold L. Staley was placed on administrative leave on June 17, 2023, following a protection from elder abuse motion filed against him by his mother, alleging he entered her home and caused a disturbance. He was terminated on July 12, 2023, after a city council hearing upheld the decision. In February 2024, Staley filed a 600-page lawsuit against the City of Elba, Mayor Tom Maddox, and City Clerk Sally Bane, claiming they conspired to avoid paying unemployment to 911 dispatchers and sought $5 million in damages. In February 2025, a federal magistrate recommended dismissing the lawsuit, citing it as a ‘shotgun pleading’ that failed to meet federal standards.
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