Dilworth's police chief is standing up for himself -- with support from the city -- after a no confidence vote from most of the members of his police force.
Chief Josh Ebert held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to answer complaints from six of his nine department members, who are calling for his resignation.
Ebert says he's done nothing that would make him expect to see formal charges or complaints against him.
He says he's been spending his last eight months since taking the chief position going over budgeting, scheduling and other ways to make the department run efficiently.
He also says he's been bringing his officers up to date on training requirements they hadn't met.
He says he's not resigning, nor has he been asked to.
It's clear the city leaders are putting their support behind the chief.
The city administrator told Valley News he put the chief on paid leave Monday to investigate an incident that occurred recently, but won't discuss the incident.
He says the chief won't be facing any disciplinary action for it.
"I have treated all the members of this department fairly, ethically and professionally. I intend to support the overall mission of the police department to work with the police officers in an appropriate and constructive manner in accordance with the process set forth by the city of Dilworth," said the chief in a pre-written address during the news conference. The chief did not answer any questions from the media following the newser.
Valley News also reached out to various members of the department to see if any of them wanted to comment on what their next move is, now that the city's not backing their request to remove the chief.
The two we reached at home said they don't want to comment.
The Dilworth mayor says his next step is arranging a closed-session meeting with the city council to find out what state law and city code require them to do.
He says personnel issues are sensitive, and that the city's leaders are in "uncharted waters."
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