Barnsdall Police Chief Suspended Without Pay

Barnsdall Chief of Police Tony Gates was suspended indefinitely, without pay, one day after talking to The News On 6.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=10727442" target=_blank>Oil Spill Raises Concerns In Barnsdall</A>

Wednesday, July 15th 2009, 9:36 pm

By: News On 6

Barnsdall Police Chief Suspended Without Pay

News On 6

BARNSDALL, OK -- An Osage County police chief who blew the whistle on what he says was a dangerous oil spill finds himself in trouble on the job.

Barnsdall Chief of Police Tony Gates was suspended indefinitely, without pay, one day after talking to The News On 6.

Gates released pictures of an April oil spill on Lake Waxhoma, which provides the town's water supply. Barnsdall's mayor says he suspended the chief for the betterment of the department.

The company responsible for the spill says it was minor, and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality says it was cleaned up properly.