SOUTHPORT, Ind. -- Southport's veteran police chief Thomas Vaughn has been reinstated after reaching an agreement with the city's mayor, bringing an end to a controversial standoff that offered the public two different versions of the reasoning behind the controversial termination.
Mayor Jim Cooney and Vaughn announced that Vaughn is to be reinstated to his role as the city's police chief during a special meeting held by the Southport City Council Thursday night. No specific details regarding Vaughn's reinstatement have been released, with more information expected to be shared by the mayor's office on Friday.
Southport Mayor Jim Cooney announced earlier this week that Vaughn had been let go after serving for the last 11 years on the department, saying at the time that he wanted to take the "department in a different direction."
Vaughn told FOX59/CBS4 that he believed the mayor terminated him unjustly in response to a complaint the former police chief filed with the city council questioning why the mayor was reportedly involved in a city inspection of a resident’s property.
Vaughn said he received an email from the mayor Monday evening confirming his departure, mere hours after he failed his grievance. The email listed no specific reasons for Vaughn’s termination and stated that he was to be demoted to reserve patrol officer.
FOX59/CBS4 has confirmed that Mayor Cooney previously served as the president of the city council where he passed a resolution in 2014 granting mayors the ability to hire police chiefs and giving authority to the Board of Public Works and Safety to fire the chief.
Mayor Cooney held a press conference Wednesday morning where he took the opportunity to address questions surrounding Vaughn's dismissal.
During the news conference, the mayor claimed he requested documents from Vaughn regarding the department's reserve officers. Cooney said Vaughn refused to provide the requested documents, telling him that the officer's files are to remain private.
Cooney emphasized that the decision was not a "power grab", citing an apparent state statute that gave him the ability to fire a police chief.
The confusion surrounding the fallout between the police chief and mayor came to a boiling point Wednesday night when more than 100 people gathered at Southport City Hall to throw their support behind reinstating Vaughn during a Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.
FOX59/CBS4 heard from several residents who shared personal stories highlighting their positive experiences with Vaughn during an hour of public comment, with some even calling for Cooney to resign if he opted to not reinstate the police chief.
Others shared their gratitude to Vaughn for helping to build the city's police department from the ground up.
During that same meeting, an attorney informed the Board of Works and Safety that they believed the mayor reserved the power to appoint and remove a police chief. However, there was still confusion surrounding a previous city ordinance and whether or not that gave the Board of Public Works and Safety the authority to terminate a police chief.
The Southport Police Department also released a statement confirming Vaughn's reinstatement as police chief. The full statement can be read below:
"The Southport Police Department is pleased to announce that Chief Tom Vaughn will continue to serve as Chief of Police, leading our department with the same dedication and commitment that has characterized his tenure.
Deputy Chief Nathanael "Nate" Williams, who recently stepped into a temporary leadership role, will resume his duties as Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief Williams has been an invaluable asset to the department, and we are grateful for his continued service and leadership alongside Chief Vaughn.
Together. Chief Vaughn and Deputy Chief Williams will continue their collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and security of the Southport Community, maintaining the high standards of law enforcement and community engagement that our residents have come to expect.
We look forward to their ongoing leadership and the positive impact they will continue to have on our department and community.
Southport Police Department