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Show Sun Advocate A Friday, November ES, 19B3 Police chief fired, faces felony Two officers still under investigation By BRANDON FORD Staff Writer Felony charges were filed Wednesday in 11th Circuit Court against the former Price City police chief just three hours after he was fired by Mayor Art Lee Martines. William L. Cossaboom was charged by Carbon County Attorney Kieth Chiara with misusing public money between March and November of this year. It is a felony charge. Earlier Wednesday morning the Price City Council met in emergency session and removed Cossaboom from his position as police chief, according to an announcement by Price Mayor Art Lee Martines. Martines would not comment, however, on the reasons for the dismissal. He is aware of the reasons for his dismissal, is all Martines would say. The court document charges that Cossaboom received and disbursed public monies without authority and appropriated public money to his own use or to the use of others. It also ch rges that he willfully to turn over public omitted or refused monies to those authorized to receive it. The money in question referred to as a slush fund by Martines on a television newscast reportedly came from the $4 fees charged insurance companies and third-degr- ee individuals each time copies of police reports were requested. The Sun Advocate has learned that the money was kept in a bag in Cossabooms desk drawer. One officer estimates that an average of $25 per week was received through the sale of copies. Chiara said that more than $500 may have been diverted from the treasurers office. In the past, the money has gone to the city treasurers office, but since about March of this year the checks have been cashed by someone in the department instead of turned over to the city -- - and all but about $165 has disappeared. Cossaboom is scheduled for arraignment next Wednesday morning in 11th Circuit Court. When contacted by the Sun Advocate about his dismissal and the charges filed against him, he declined comment. Several Price City police officers were contacted by the Sun Advocate to get reactions to the firing. One officer said that most of the force was more than pleased At least five police officers had threatened to quit if Cossaboom were reinstated. Another officer, Rob Dougal said, The citizens of this community expect police officers to have a standard of excellence. That standard is based on honesty and in to his tegrity. How can any officer perform best with an administration who believes in a double standard? g Two other police officers Aleck Shilaos and Sgt. Mark Uddiard --- were suspended with pay along with Cossaboom on Nov. 9. Chiara did say, however, that both of the other officers were not involved in the misuse of public money but that the investigation into their conduct in other matters was continuing. At a Wednesday afternoon press conto ference, Martines said that he hopes have conducted City by the citys investigation, soon. finished Luke Pappas, Attorney We are in the home stretch, he said. We hope to have the investigation completed soon. Hopefully we will have a report of the investigation by the next city council meeting. The charges of misuse of public money inh came in the wake of a vestigation conducted by the Carbon County Attorneys office examining the Raymond Eaton breathalyzer incident. Eaton will be tried on felony charges stemming from an incident in which he admitted falsifying a g breathalyzer test on a suspect. three-mont- drunk-drivin- ft Copyright Sun Progress, Inc., 1983 Helper ponders uses for three abandoned buildings would like to do with the buildings, he said. ' Councilman-elec- t Bryon Matsuda said that some people favored moving the mining museum to the first floor of the Railroad Hotel and use other floors of the building for senior HELPER Members and of city here toured three government future members buildings on Main abandoned Street. The purpose of the tour was to help the city councilmen decide what to do with three buildings the city owns the old Railroad Hotel, the Rio Hotel and the old Sportsmans Club. I think it is premature to make any judgments on what to do with the three buildings, Mayor Bob Olsen said. I think it would be best to demolish the Rio Hotel and the old Sportsman Club.Vv. citizens and community meeting rooms. Olsen doesnt expect any money to be available in the near future to pay for rehabilitation of the buildings. Im quite sure that we are going to have a large enough reduction in city revenues this ' " year that there will not be to restore available money these buildings, Olsen said. The best use for the old Railroad Hotel I believe is that it be sold or leased for commercial use. Olsen said there was a possibility of obtaining money from the community block fund that could be used to rehabilitate the buildings. The mayor also suggested that some of the money made from the sale of lots in the subdivision being developed by the city could be used on the project. , On$pZ$g$apX. would Javor demolition is that the historical people recommended that the Railroad Hotel be saved and the other two be buildings demolished, he said. Another reason is that they are in such a state of deterioration I worry about their structural soundness. I would hate to see anyone hurt in them. Olsen said he was planning to gather information on the possible uses of the buildings. After the information is gathered public meetings should be held to determine what the citizens of Helper c1 w if' is s. 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