A former Arkansas State Trooper is once again employed by the state law enforcement agency after Col. Winford Phillips reversed his decision to terminate Andrew Rhew.
Rhew, 31, of Manila, was fired from his job in December, after an internal investigation by the ASP after Rhew was charged with manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 3, 2009, motor vehicle fatality of Vickie Freemyer, 53, of Blytheville.
According to the accident report, Freemyer pulled her 2010 Toyota into the path of Rhew's patrol vehicle.
Rhew was at first transferred to the criminal investigations division of the agency pending the outcome of an internal investigation. After the investigation was concluded, Phillips terminated Rhew, who appealed the colonel's decision to the Arkansas State Police Commission.
The commission was in the process of scheduling an appeal hearing when Phillips changed his mind.
Rhew's court date is currently set for May 8 of this year, according to his attorney on the matter, Robert Newcomb of Little Rock.
"He is pleased that the decision has been made," Newcomb said of Rhew. "We felt all along that this is the way to move forward. We are very pleased that the Arkansas State Police saw fit to put him back on their payroll."
Phillips said in his letter of notification to Rhew dated March 2, 2011, that "it appears there is Arkansas appellate court precedent involving a similar parallel administrative civil action and criminal action."
The point was raised at the most recent meeting of the ASP Commission that if the appeal of Rhew's firing were to be heard before his criminal trial, "it would effectively close up his avenues of appeal after the outcome of the trial," said Bill Sadler, spokesman for the ASP.
Rhew will remain on paid administrative leave until his trial, Winford stated, and will receive back pay dating back to the day Rhew was terminated.
If convicted, Rhew will not be able to be a law enforcement officer under state law.
A special prosecutor has been named to handle Rhew's case. Retired prosecutor H.G. Foster, who has served as the elected prosecutor in several north central Arkansas counties, will work with Lonoke County Deputy Prosecutor Will Feland on the case.
Rhew's defense attorney in the criminal case is Bill Bristow of Jonesboro.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com