Alton Police Chief’s Job in Jeopardy Over Inmate Treatment

ALTON, Ill. (AP) — Surveillance video showing an Alton police officer pepper spraying two handcuffed teen inmates could cost the southwestern Illinois town’s police chief his job.

The (Alton) Telegraph reports that city aldermen voted Wednesday night to reject Mayor Brant Walker’s reappointment of Chief Jason “Jake” Simmons after video showing two male inmates being sprayed while in a city jail holding cell was broadcast this week by KMOV-TV.

Simmons remains on the job because the vote is non-binding.

The chief says the late January encounter is under investigation. Madison County prosecutors have also asked Illinois State Police to investigate.

A police spokeswoman told the newspaper that the video won’t be publicly released because it shows juvenile suspects. A local NAACP official provided the St. Louis TV station with the video.

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