Residents in Fair Grove are still unhappy about the state of the city and its leadership. A week after the Fair Grove school resource officer Ben McMains’ decommission from the city police department was upheld, citizens addressed the Board of Aldermen questioning past decisions and asking for change.
In late January, McMains was decommissioned by the city after an incident between him and a city employee was investigated. In the complaint that instigated the investigation, he was accused of intimidating the employee, although McMains told the News-Leader the situation was not aggressive in any way. Without his law enforcement power from the city, he is unable to remain in the SRO position at the school.
He appealed the decision and was heard in closed session the previous Tuesday, drawing a large crowd of Fair Grove students, parents and community members in his support. Despite the large community turnout and public disagreement about McMains’ firing, the board voted unanimously to uphold the decision.