'Interim' Removed from Title as Gates is Named Forsyth Police Chief

Forsyth Police Chief Jack Gates (Photo Courtesy: City of Forsyth Website)

By: Monte Schisler, News Director
Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012

Interim Forsyth Police Chief Jack Gates can now take interim off his title. The Forsyth Board of Aldermen has approved naming Gates as Police Chief fulltime. He filled in for longtime Chief Mike Womack when he retired last May. Gates tells HometownDailyNews.com he’s looking forward to the challenges ahead:

Jack Gates 2012A034

The town’s mayor and Board of Aldermen all received several letters of support from the community, including Sheriff Jimmie Russell, who spoke on Gates’ behalf at Tuesday’s Board meeting. Alderwoman Missi Hesketh called Gates the people’s choice for Police Chief, and said Forsyth is honored to have him head up the department.

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Forsyth has a new police chief, and members of the town’s Board of Aldermen didn’t have far to go to find him. Interim Police Chief Jack Gates was given the job Tuesday night, with Ward Two Alderwoman Missi Hesketh saying Forsyth is honored to have Gates officially head up the department, calling him the people’s choice. Several community members wrote letters of recommendation in support of Gates, and Taney County’s sheriff spoke on his behalf at this week’s board meeting. Gates tells HometownDailyNews.com that he’s flattered by the kind words:

Jack Gates 2012A035

Gates had been interim Forsyth Police Chief since last May, when longtime Chief Mike Womack retired after 26 years with the department, the last 22 as top cop in Forsyth.

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Jack Gates is no longer Interim Chief of the Forsyth Police Department – he now has the job fulltime, after the town’s Board of Aldermen approved the hiring at this week’s meeting. Gates tells HometownDailyNews.com that he wants to update the department, and bring it into the 21^st century, knowing also that he needs to keep one eye on the budget:

Jack Gates 2012A036

Gates had been interim Forsyth Police Chief since last May, when longtime Chief Mike Womack retired after 26 years with the department.

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Jack Gates is no longer Interim Chief of the Forsyth Police Department – he now has the job fulltime, after the town’s Board of Aldermen approved the hiring at this week’s meeting. Speaking with HometownDailyNews.com Gates says he looks forward to the challenges ahead.

Comments (13) - comment on this story

Forsyth Resident - 01/05/2012 8:10:17 AM

Best Wishes to Mr. Gates . However , who in Forsyth would listen to Missi Hesketh. Look at the mess, expense and chaos she has created for our city. Is it true she is the ONLY alderperson who voted NO to display " In God we Trust in City Hall"? Check the record. Missi is not held in high esteem by those of us in Forsyth who can think for ourselves. Her liberal agenda is not welcomed in this community.

FMP - 01/05/2012 4:25:55 PM

Strange, I read this to be an article about Mr. Gates being promoted to the chief position. You boldly state your OPINION about your views of Alderwoman Hesketh. Just as you slander her public reputation there are many others who believe she is the right person for the job and has the fortitude and intelligence to stand up and fight for what she feels is right. Your statement of "Missi is not held in high esteem by those of us in Forsyth who can think for ourselves. Her liberal agenda is not welcomed in this community." Who are you to judge whom is held in high esteem? Then to top it all off you refer to the "in god we trust" verse? What kind of god fearing person would even submit their opinion when it goes against the grain of most things you would find in the bible? Mr. or Mrs Forsyth resident. Please do yourself a favor and not speak for the community. Missi, has the intelligence to do the right thing. The days of the "good ole boy" system are slowly going away.

Missi - 01/05/2012 5:41:27 PM

It pains me that a Forsyth resident who can think for himself can take a positive article about the appointment of a very qualified candidate to lead our police department and turn it into something hateful. I so wish "Forsyth Resident" had the nerve to leave his true identity. If a liberal agenda is transparency and a welcomeness to all individuals, then I am guilty. To return to topic, congratulations Chief Gates. Thank you for all you do.

Christopher J Sullivan - 01/05/2012 7:15:18 PM

Once again we see the Bigotry that still exists in our land. The Forsyth Resident, who is nameless, as usual should take a long look at themselves and their cohorts who would allow this Fine City, to operate as a dictatorship, with little communication from the Mayor and his administration. The audit that is under way was due to the lack of transparency that was asked for and should be the cornerstone of our City.

Another Forsythe Resident - 01/05/2012 7:50:02 PM

Isn't it funny how people who claim to "think for themselves" like the previous commenter ALWAYS feel the need to speak for everyone else....as if we can't think for ourselves. "Never mind Hesketh's agenda...what is YOUR agenda. Please share your name so we can all bask in glow of knowing who it is exactly that is speaking for ALL of us here in Forsythe concerning our representation...give me a break.

Shameful - 01/05/2012 7:56:56 PM

My goodness Forsyth resident, what a simple minded person your statement makes you look like. I actually think for myself and welcome Missi Hesketh's point of view and any others who might want to better the community. Maybe you could step back, look in the mirror and see who might not be welcome! It's statements like these that just remind me how thankful I am for people who have the guts to stand up for the people.

George Smith - 01/05/2012 7:59:48 PM

That's some great logic... You complain about someone over spending and then criticize them for not spending our tax money to put up a useless sign in a building. If you can think for yourself, why do you need a sign? Do you commonly forget who you trust in?

Nixa resident - 01/05/2012 8:35:12 PM

Dear Forsyth Resident, Those who truly think for themselves let others think for themselves without throwing criticism their way, less you be a hypocrite.

Tangee Bijl - 01/05/2012 8:52:25 PM

I also welcome our new Police Chief Gates, and give a vote of confidence to our Alderwoman Missi Hesketh. I sincerely hope more residents of Forsyth have the guts to at least sign their name to their comments.

urda - 01/05/2012 11:03:31 PM

maybe you should run for the position. since you are speaking for the whole town of forsyth, how much do they like you????????????

Mike Chipman - 01/06/2012 6:52:22 AM

I also wish Jack the best. What bothers me is I was at the meeting and the person who wrote this article wasn't. He evidently interviewed Missi for her opinion after the Board meeting. I never heard Missi make this statement during the Board's decision to make Jack the acting police chief. She may of made the comment though. Jimmie Russell did speak on Jack's behalf. It's ashame when an article very important to Jack and the City of Forsyth becomes a referendum on Missi. Let Jack enjoy the moment. The voters in Ward I in April will decide for themselves if they approve of Missi's record and actions.

Forsythkid - 01/06/2012 9:09:54 AM

Welcome Mr. Gates, to the community. I sincerely hope you have a long and well received tenure. As to the disparaging remarks made about Miss, I can only say it is troubling to see remarks by anyone that seeks to cast negative slants on any public official. Her views, like those of anyone else should be looked at in a good and positive light. Where are here in this one community and it behooves each and everyone of us to support each other. Remarks that are negative generally tear down, not build up, what we are all trying to achieve. Many times, I have found that the problems with us is our inability to communicate and when we do hear something, it just gets more garbled the further it goes down the line. Personally, I support Missi even though I may not always agree with everything she says and does. But, isn't that what a Republic is all about?

JennP - 01/06/2012 7:42:04 PM

Kudos to all individuals strong and brave enough to step forward and try to make a positive change in the community. Regardless of your personal position, there is no excuse for making negative comments. How about stating your position and stepping forward to help make the changes. Congrats to Jack on his job, and thank you to all individuals who take the time and effort to try and make a long overdue change to Forsyth.