SOUTHPORT, Ind. -- Southport Mayor Jim Cooney hosted a news conference on Wednesday morning, aiming at clearing up some questions surrounding the apparent firing of Southport Police Chief Tom Vaughn.
However there is still confusion about who is serving as the leader of the Southport Police Department.
According to previous reports, Cooney announced Tuesday that Vaughn was fired in his role as the city's police chief, stating that Cooney wanted to take the police department in a different direction.
Cooney said that Nate Williams, a deputy chief in the department, was temporarily named as Southport's interim police chief as the city starts its search for its new chief. Cooney said that Vaughn was not let go from the department as a whole, but was demoted to reserve patrol officer.
During Wednesday's news conference, Cooney said that he requested a series of documents from Vaughn regarding the department's reserve officers. Cooney claims that Vaughn refused to provide the documents, stating that officer personnel files are private.
Cooney said that Vaughn's refusal led to Vaughn's termination as police chief.
As mayor, Cooney said that state statute gives him the ability to fire a police chief, stressing that the actions he took were in "full compliance of the law." Cooney said that his decision was right for the city, and not a power grab.
“This is all about doing the right thing," Cooney said.
Vaughn told FOX59/CBS4 that Cooney does not have the power to fire him, citing a 2014 ordinance granting mayors the ability to hire police chiefs and giving authority to the Board of Public Works and Safety to fire the chief.
According to previous reports, the city of Southport's Board of Public Works and Safety is meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and is expected to address the issue. The mayor is one of five board members and can cast votes.
The full news conference with Cooney can be viewed in the video player above.