The Sylvania, Ala., council voted unanimously this week to suspend police Chief Brad Gregg for a month without pay for violating a city policy, authorities said.
Gregg was disciplined for violating a personnel policy, a letter signed by Mayor Mitchell Dendy shows. But the letter didn’t name a specific policy.
City employees are subject to an extensive policy — drafted in 2009 — that addresses “everything” the council feels is not up to standard for public officials, Assistant Mayor Max Turner said.
Gregg, who has been police chief for five years, didn’t violate the personnel policy on city time, but police have to be held to a higher standard, Turner said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s done on city time,” Turner said. “If a policeman has his badge on, he’s on duty.”
The five-member City Council met Tuesday in an executive session with Gregg, and after the meeting members voted to suspend him without pay and put him on probation for a year, Turner said. If he violates any policy in the next year he will be fired, Turner said.
The police chief first requested a meeting with the council to tell his side of the story after rumors were circulating, City Manager Michael Kling said. No complaint ever was filed against Gregg, and the council didn’t open an internal investigation, he said.
But what was discussed in the executive session Tuesday night is protected by law, Kling said.
A telephone number for Gregg couldn’t be found. Calls to the police department for Assistant Chief Ross Greenwood were not returned.
Gregg has 10 days to appeal the council’s decision in writing and request an open hearing, the letter written to Gregg states. If he requests a hearing the council will set a date for a formal hearing at which evidence and witnesses could be brought forth.
Dendy didn’t return calls seeking comment.