WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Two West Memphis police officers are fighting to clear their names over sexual harassment accusations.

Those officers are still on leave from their jobs with the department, but Thursday night, WREG got a closer look at just how heated this has become.

It was the end of the regular Thursday night West Memphis City Council Meeting when Mayor Marco McClendon announced that the two embattled West Memphis Police Officers, Major Stacy Allen and Captain Mose Walker, had a name-clearing hearing.

The officers walked in with their attorney, Lucien Gillham, who took over.

“We are here for a name-clearing because basically, both of them got suspended,” said Gillham.

WREG has reported on the state investigation into Allen, Walker, and two other officers for allegations of sexual misconduct and intimidation. Allen and Walker’s attorney says now the officers have to live with the label that comes up anytime someone Googles their name.

“The first four pages come up with they are suspended because of an investigation of sexual harassment. It’s something that isn’t true. It’s something that isn’t proved,” said the Gillham. “It’s nothing more than retaliation because these men stood up and said that what the chief was doing isn’t right.”

Gillham said the chief, who was at the meeting, left because he didn’t want to face his accusers. He says the officers were targeted for pointing out wrongdoing; now they can’t speak out.

“They know that the policies don’t let them speak out to defend themselves,” Gillham said.

The attorney says that what they can talk about is the charges they don’t face.

“Mose Walker is not being investigated for sexual harassment. They know it. They knew it when they released that statement to the media. They knew it when interviews were given to TV. This is shameful,” he said.

Gillham then lit into the Mayor, whom he accused of laughing at the entire ordeal.

Gillham: “I see you smiling, Mayor, but this isn’t funny.”

Mayor McClendon: “This isn’t about me smiling, it’s about me laughing at you.”

Gillham: “You keep laughing when we see you in a jury, sir.”

Allen and Walker never spoke during the hearing, but stood by silently. When a council member tried to keep their attorney on the subject, he lit in even more.

Gillham: “What’s really going on, sir, is this is retaliation.”

Council member: “You have a microphone, sir. You don’t need to yell.”

Gillham: “Well, sir. I am exercised about this. This is upsetting.”
 
This is a clear sign the investigation is far from over, and Gillham says there is more to come.

“But I will tell you something. Justice is coming. Justice is coming,” he said.

We reached out to West Memphis Mayor McClendon and the police chief about last night’s meeting. We are waiting to hear back.

Stacy Allen was accused of sexual harassment and suspended four years ago. A report called his behavior “longstanding,” but the Mayor returned Allen to his job, saying the charges were not substantiated.