Police chief, K-9 officer placed on leave in Bailey; Nash deputies called in to help

With two of the town's four police officers out, deputies with the Nash County Sheriff's Office are now covering patrol shifts in the town of Bailey.

There has been no explanation released yet as to why Police Chief Cathy Callahan and officer Evan Sokolove were placed on leave.

Sokolove said Callahan had been filling out timecards that reflected more hours than she'd actually worked – and that he was not credited for the hours he had been working.

On Oct. 28, Town Administrator Joel Killion asked him to submit a statement about Callahan's timecards. Despite Callahan allegedly telling him not to say anything that would implicate her, Sokolove ultimately decided to cooperate with the investigation.

He said town leaders told him that he would soon be named acting police chief in Bailey, but on Nov. 3, Sokolove said the town suddenly placed him on paid leave. He believes it's retaliation for his statement.

"I actually have a recording of this," Sokolove said. "I was told by the town attorney that I’m not facing any sort of criminal or civil liabilities whatsoever."

Nichols said they've offered to take a settlement from the town in exchange for his resignation.

If the town doesn't pay the settlement, Sokolove said he's prepared to sue, and he won't be returning to work in Bailey.

"It would be obviously unbearable to work for this woman," Sokolove said. "And to work for a town that has retaliated and tarnished my name that they have."

"This is a career-ending thing for somebody in law enforcement," said Jack Nichols, the attorney representing Sokolove. "It’s inexplicable how they have treated him."

In the meantime, with half of the police force on leave, the town police commissioner and Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone are working to ensure there is a police presence in the town by assigning deputies to fill in.

The town has no further comments on the situation at this time, and Callahan declined to speak with WRAL News about this situation.