From the AP (not online, that I can find)
March 2, 2000 (AP)
Judge upholds firing of Wasilla police chief
Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin maintains she didn't fire Police Chief Irl Stambaugh three years ago because he supported her election opponent John Stein. But even if that was her reason, she was within her rights to dump Stambaugh, a federal judge has ruled.
In light of Palin's current troopergate - not to mention the Bush administration's Justice Department scandal of politically-motivated firings - this could become a story.
Now, someone track down Stambaugh and others in the know on this issue, and let's see if there's any there there...