Marion is looking for a new police chief with the sudden — and immediate — resignation of Gideon Cody as announced Monday.
Cody’s resignation followed his suspension and a well-publicized raid of the Marion County Record in August. The reasons behind the resignation are not being announced due to the city’s personnel policy, according to Mayor Dave Mayfield.
Cody became the focal point of a fierce national debate on free speech after the raid on the Record, which happened while the paper was investigating his prior work history — including allegations of misconduct — with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department and while the paper was in a dispute with a business owner over reporting a past DUI conviction. The warrant used to buttress the search, signed by Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, was eventually withdrawn after it was determined there wasn’t sufficient evidence to justify the searches — either of the Record office, the publisher’s home of Marion City Council member Ruth Herbel’s home.
Cody already faces one federal lawsuit from Record reporter Deb Gruver, alleging violations of First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights. More are possible.
