Police Chief Arrested On Theft Charges

ATHENS–An investigation by the Henderson County District Attorney and FBI resulted in the arrest of Log Cabin Police Chief Rebecca "Becky" Baskin late Wednesday. Baskin formerly served as a police officer with the Edgewood Police Department for five years.

She was arrested at the Log Cabin Police Station. The action came as a surprise to city officials.

"The phone call was the first I heard about it. When the DA called me to say, ‘I’m fixing to throw our chief in jail,’" Log Cabin Mayor Billy Goodwin said.

Baskin was arrested without incident and taken to Henderson County Jail. Thursday, she was released on bond for $25,000.

Baskin is charged with two counts of theft of property more than $1,500 and less than $20,000.

The illegal activity stems from her work as a police chief in Log Cabin, District Attorney Scott McKee said.

Investigators were at the Log Cabin Police Station until 4 a.m. making an inventory of the station’s property room.

The case is being treated as priority one at the DA’s Office, McKee added, as every case Baskin has filed is being reviewed to ensure no one’s rights have been violated.

"This is a continuing investigation. In a week or so, we’ll see if there are any more charges to be made," McKee said.

In an emergency session, the Log Cabin City Council — minus the mayor and mayor pro-tem, who were unavailable — met to appoint Log Cabin Police Officer Jeremy Nash as interim police chief.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Department has offered its assistance to the city’s police department, should anything major occur, Sheriff Ray Nutt said.