Rural Pope County Fire Protection District FB Page - March 2021
GOLCONDA, IL — WMOK received a copy of the official termination letter issued to former Golconda Police Chief Steve Walker this week.
The document, dated July 13, 2026, was delivered in person to Walker by Golconda Mayor Gail Barger. In the letter, Mayor Barger cited authority under Section 3.1-35-10 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-10), stating that Walker’s termination was determined to be in the best interest of the City of Golconda.
The letter lists five specific grounds for the dismissal:
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Investigation Delays: Repeated failure to follow up in a timely and appropriate manner with criminal investigations within the City of Golconda.
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Improper Profiling: Use of improper profiling techniques and conducting limited investigations into local criminal activity.
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Disparaging Remarks: Undermining the authority of the Mayor by repeatedly making disparaging comments regarding the Mayor to city staff and municipal officials.
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Ordinance Enforcement: Repeated failure to enforce city ordinance violations.
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Refusal of Duties: Refusing to perform the duties of the office unless explicitly ordered to do so by the appointing official.
These grounds align directly with the information Mayor Barger previously released to the public in her July press statement. The newly obtained termination letter does not provide further elaboration or specific case details regarding the Mayor’s reasons for dismissing Chief Walker beyond the points already made public.
Additionally, the letter directed Walker to immediately surrender all city-owned property—including vehicles, firearms, gear, badges, electronics, and access passwords—to the city clerk. The document noted that Walker was paid salary benefits through his July 13 termination date.
WMOK has reached out but has not yet spoken directly with Mayor Barger regarding the matter. When contacted by WMOK, former Police Chief Walker stated that he does not wish to speak publicly at this time.
WMOK will continue to pursue this ongoing story, moving beyond the official bullet points regarding former Chief Walker’s termination and the future of municipal law enforcement in Golconda.
