Small town Utah police chief fired after stalking allegations

MYTON, Utah — The chief of a recently formed police department in the tiny eastern Utah town of Myton has been fired amid allegations he stalked three women.

Thomas Butterfield was fired Friday, two weeks after he was charged with five misdemeanors, including stalking, criminal trespass and unlawful detention.

Court documents don’t describe the alleged crimes, but say three women were victims. Butterfield has previously denied the allegations.

Mayor Kathleen Cooper declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his termination.

The police department was organized July 1 to serve the town’s 500 to 600 residents, and Butterfield was its only full-time employee.

A part-time employee has been appointed interim chief while a search for a replacement is conducted.

Cooper told the Deseret News that there are no plans to disband the department.