(AP) – The police chief and three officers who make up the entire four-person police department of the city of Geary, Oklahoma, and two of the city’s city council members have resigned without much explanation.

Former Police Chief Alicia Ford did not address the specific reasons for Thursday’s resignations, but wrote in a social media post that the decision was difficult.

“It is with great sadness that I and the rest of the Geary Police Officers will no longer serve this community,” Ford wrote, “but it was the right decision for me and the other officers.”

Ford, without elaborating, encouraged residents of the city of nearly 1,000 people about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City to become familiar with the city council “and to get as involved as possible in the city, especially attending municipal council meetings. “

Ford did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Saturday.

A woman who answered a phone call to a number for Mayor Waylan Upchego on Saturday said “not at this time” when a reporter asked to speak with Upchego about the resignations.

The city, in a statement, thanked the former chief and officers and wished them well, saying an interim police chief has been chosen and that the Blaine County and Canadian County sheriff’s offices will help patrol the city.

“We would like our citizens to know that we are doing business as usual,” according to the statement. “If you have an emergency, please contact 911 as you normally would and an officer will be dispatched to assist you.”

City Council members Glen “Rocky” Coleman Jr. and Kristy Miller also announced their resignations, leaving the four-person council with just one member due to a previous vacancy.

Coleman wrote on social media that his values ​​do not align with the city’s direction and said communication between the administration and council “has been significantly poor,” but offered no further explanation.

“Council members are the last to know anything,” Coleman wrote. “There are often times when I don’t know something (is planned) until the meeting starts.”

Miller did not immediately return a phone call to a number listed for her.

The city did not identify the acting chief, but instead identified JJ Stitt, who described himself as a 27-year veteran of law enforcement, as a county deputy, member of a task force that investigates Internet crimes. against children and distant cousin of Governor Kevin Stitt. – told The Oklahoman that he is the interim chief.

Stitt did not return a phone call to a number listed, but told the newspaper he hopes to add officers in the coming days. He said he has “the ability” to pick up the phone and have experienced officers come to town to help.

“I’ve been in the game a long time,” Stitt said.

The resignations occur more than a year after the the entire police department from the small town of Goodhue, Minnesota, resigned because of low wages.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.