The attorney for Selma’s City Treasurer and three Selma Police Department (SPD) officers placed on administrative leave spoke Tuesday at the city council meeting.

Montgomery-based attorney Julian McPhillips urged for Wade to get reinstated as well as three SPD officers:  Lt. Tory Neely, Sgt. Jeffrey Hardy and Sgt. Kendall Thomas. The three officers and Wade are under two different investigations by the Attorney General’s office. All four appeared at the city council meeting.

“I’d like to see Wade get reinstated,” McPhillips said. “She’s the city council’s watchdog. It’s a shame what has happened to her. Wade sent a memo to Mayor Darrio Melton about him using city money for personal reasons.”

The three SPD officers were charged with providing false statements on Nov. 1. McPhillips said he still hasn’t received an explanation for their arrests. The charge is a class C felony that holds a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

“These officers have nothing to hide and they cooperated with the investigation,” McPhillips said. “We found out the AG’s office was suckered into this. No one has told them why they were put on leave. All these officers want to do is get their jobs back and protect the citizens of Selma.”

McPhillips said he blames Melton for the two investigations.

“The city council needs to stand up to him,” McPhillips said. “This is a tragedy and will be a greater tragedy if you don’t stand up to him. The Mayor ignores all city council rules. He needs to repent and find a way to turn a city government around that has just gotten out of control.”

On Nov. 2, Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier said the SPD will fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office and the Grand Jury’s investigation.

“The Selma Police Department values the Attorney General’s Office as a trusted partner,” Collier said.  “The returned indictment from a Dallas County Grand Jury is a matter that we take extremely serious.”