Florence terminates lieutenant, strips police chief of spending power

  • Florence Police Chief Wayne Thompson, right, gets tearful listening to 15 people vocalize their support of him during the January 20 special-called city council meeting. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.
    Florence Police Chief Wayne Thompson, right, gets tearful listening to 15 people vocalize their support of him during the January 20 special-called city council meeting. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.
  • More than 100 community members spill out of Florence City Hall. Photos by Nalani Nuylan..
    More than 100 community members spill out of Florence City Hall. Photos by Nalani Nuylan..

    In a five-hour-long special city council meeting, Florence officials fired Florence Police Department Lieutenant David Guthrie on Tuesday, January 20, and disciplined Chief Wayne Thompson for what the city administrator said was a misuse of city funds. 

    City Administrator Tamela Louvier said during the meeting that both the Chief and the Lieutenant have been breaking city policies regarding sp…