CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Professional Law Enforcement Standards Subcommittee voted to decertify former Monongah Chief of Police Nathan Lanham.
Lanham stopped Beth Delloma for an expired registration sticker on Aug. 7. The interaction, caught on video, spiraled out of control when Delloma asked for identification and Lanham refused. Lanham pointed his service weapon at Delloma several times and wrestled her to the ground as she attempted to flee the scene for help. She was in jail for 5 days after being charged with fleeing with reckless indifference.
Committee Chair Steve Walker said the matter had been continued in September and October, and today there was enough evidence to make a ruling. Walker said the board takes decertification very seriously, and they wanted to be sure Lanham and his attorney had ample opportunity to gather and present evidence.
“We decided today to decertify Nathan Lanham,” Walker said. “The biggest issue was jeopardizing public trust and fidelity in law enforcement.”
The decision was after about a two-hour meeting. Walker said two committee members recused themselves: Rob Matheny from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department because the incident happened there and they were included in the response and a state trooper due to an ongoing investigation into the incident by that agency.
“We took into account all the information we had, and that was the vote,” Walker said. “There were two members of the board that did not vote.”
Walker said Lanham will have the opportunity to appeal the ruling in January. The committee does not meet in December.