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Elkins fires police officer after domestic battery arrest

(Police Reports - Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

ELKINS — An Elkins police officer who was arrested in Barbour County on March 30 was fired by the city on Thursday, officials said.

Christian Michael Mayle, 25, is charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor. He was being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on an $8,000 bond, which had been posted.

The City of Elkins released a press statement at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, stating: “The City of Elkins terminated the employment of former Probationary Patrolman Christian Mayle today. Mayle was terminated for violation of the Elkins Police Department’s Standards of Conduct policy. Under West Virginia law, a police officer terminated for cause loses the state certification required to serve as a sworn law enforcement officer.”

“There has been a lot of public interest in this matter, and that’s completely understandable,” Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco said in the release. “But people need to understand that this sort of situation comes with a bundle of complex legal protections for police officers under state law.

“Although we saw a clear need to take decisive action to uphold departmental and community standards concerning this kind of behavior, we also needed to work carefully with our City Attorney and H.R. Director to make sure the correct process was followed so as not to open the city up to legal action.”

Mayle joined the Elkins Police Department in late 2024, the release states.

“Immediately after his arrest, Mayle was placed on administrative leave by the Elkins Police Department. Mayle was required to surrender his badge, service weapon, and other department-issued equipment. At this point, city officials began preparations for terminating Mayle,” according to the release.

“Under West Virginia law, the process for terminating a civil-service police officer is significantly more complex than the process for terminating the more common ‘at-will’ employment relationship. In addition to requiring presentation of a written notice of the charges that were the basis for termination, state law stipulates that the department’s decision to terminate is reviewable and can be overturned at a hearing in front of — depending on the circumstances of the case — either the civil service commission or a hearing board consisting of three police officers. If the termination is overturned, this can be appealed, but the process of doing so is lengthy and expensive.”

In the release, Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett said “the extensive online conversation about this matter has included some inaccurate information.”

“At the time of his hiring by EPD in 2024, Mayle had never been fired from another police department, nor had he been disciplined or investigated by another police department,” Bennett said in the release. “Under state law, if he had been terminated for cause or resigned while under investigation by another police department, he would have lost his state law enforcement certification and would have been ineligible for hiring by EPD.

“Whatever else is going on, I want the people of Elkins to know they can rely on this department to protect and serve them to the absolute best of our ability. That’s our sworn duty, and we take it very seriously.”

Chrishaunda Marshall, the city’s HR Director, stated in the release,”Situations like this remind us of the importance of maintaining a culture rooted in accountability, respect, and community safety.

“While we are carefully following all legal procedures, we also recognize our responsibility to lead with integrity and foster a workplace culture that honors the trust the public places in us,” Marshall said. “We remain committed to continuous improvement both in our hiring practices and in the way we serve our residents.”

Mayle had served as a police officer with the Elkins Police Department and the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Patrolman T.L. Cooper, of the Belington Police Department, at about 2 a.m. on the morning of April 30 he responded to a domestic violence call in Belington. A woman at the residence said Mayle had “fled the scene in his personal vehicle.” Officers with the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police “began searching for him in the area.”

The woman said she and Mayle began arguing while they were out for the evening, and while driving her home, she said Mayle drove “like 104 mph” and told her several times he was “going to kill (her),” the complaint states. She also said Mayle took her cellphone from her hands and threw it into the vehicle’s windshield, causing it to crack.

At the residence, the woman said Mayle “grabbed her by the throat and slammed her up into the door,” according to the complaint. She said he then loaded a handgun and left the residence.

Cooper said he observed and photographed “multiple injuries” present on the woman’s body, “as well as many corroborating factors in the house and vehicle,” the complaint states.

Mayle and his vehicle were located “approximately one mile from the scene,” and “two loaded handguns” were recovered in the vehicle, according to the complaint.

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