Durant Police chief resigns a week after being placed on leave

Friday, August 13th 2004, 5:40 am

By: News On 6

DURANT, Okla. (AP) -- City officials here are unsure how they will replace the police chief who resigned Thursday, about two weeks after receiving a no-confidence vote from rank-and-file officers.

The city council put Roy Brown on administrative leave Aug. 5 and was scheduled to meet in a few days to discuss whether to allow him to return to work.

The leave came about a week after the Durant Fraternal Order of Police voted no-confidence in their chief.

The officers' union filed several complaints about Brown in the past year, including grievances about policy-making and the captains' rotation, City Manager Paul Buntz said.

Officers also complained that Brown made policies without their input, Buntz said.

"There had been a meeting scheduled to discuss several issues related to the department," Buntz said. "Of course, that's a moot issue now."

Brown could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Buntz said he couldn't discuss the decision to place Brown on administrative leave because it was a personnel matter.

Assistant Chief Greg Pollock will serve as acting chief until Brown's resignation goes into effect Sept. 1. Pollock took over for Brown when he was put on leave earlier this month.

Buntz said he's not sure how the city will replace Brown.

During his tenure, Brown brought more officers and more equipment to the department and aggressively pursued grants, Buntz said. More than 30 officers work for the department.