BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway confirmed Wednesday that Capt. Lynn Hahn, jail commander, was fired last week.
Holloway was sworn in shortly after midnight Sunday. He wasn't the sheriff when Hahn was fired Friday, but Holloway served as chief deputy for the Sheriff's Office.
Holloway declined to give reasons for Hahn's termination, citing an ongoing internal investigation concerning Hahn. Holloway said he wants to review the internal investigation to determine if firing was the right decision.
"I'm not particularly happy about it," Holloway said. "It's not the way I wanted to start on Day One."
Hahn didn't return a message seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.
Meyer Gilbert was sheriff before Holloway took office. Gilbert declined to comment on Hahn's firing and the internal investigation.
Holloway said Maj. Jeremy Guyll is overseeing the jail. Guyll served as captain and jail commander before being promoted in May after Gilbert was appointed sheriff.
Hahn served as major before Gilbert made changes in the command staff and assigned Hahn as captain and commander over the jail.
Former Sheriff Kelley Cradduck resigned in April, and the Benton County Quorum Court selected Gilbert to serve the remainder of Cradduck's term. Hahn was also one of the candidates who sought to replace Cradduck.
Gilbert is now Holloway's chief deputy.
According to Brenda Guenther, county comptroller, Hahn's annual pay was $65,714. Hahn was hired in 2006 as a part-time deputy, and he was hired full time in 2007.
Hahn was the captain over the patrol division until he was promoted in March to the position of major.
NW News on 01/05/2017