Gadsden Police Chief faces suspension over visits with murder suspect

Members of The Gadsden Civil Service Board ruled Wednesday evening that Police Chief John Crane's relationship with murderer Justin Denson violated its rules and suspended him for 15 days.  The board said Crane may have negatively impacted the reputation or perceived reputation of the Gadsden Police Department.  Ten days of the penalty will be held in abeyance, and Crane will serve his suspension during the last five working days of June. The board at a later date will determine how long the other days will be held in abeyance.   Denson pleaded guilty last November to murdering his mother, Nita Denson.  He had been accused of hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer around Christmas 2009. Her body was discovered in January 2010 at her home while Denson was traveling around the country, using her credit cards to fund visits to Florida, Louisiana and Colorado. He was apprehended a few days later in Memphis, Tenn., after leading police on a high-speed chase through the city.  Denson was sentenced in February to 119 years in prison for murder and fraudulent credit card use.  Crane visited Denson once a month in the Etowah County Detention Center for a period of about three years, from about the time Denson was arrested until he was sentenced.