Centralia residents want more transparency after police chief resigns

CENTRALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Centralia residents are asking the city for more transparency after the police chief on Friday submitted his letter of resignation.

According to the city administrator Heather Russell, Centralia Police Chief Robert Bias turned in his letter of resignation and will no longer be with the department effective Oct. 10.

When asked why, Russell explained she couldn't discuss the details, citing "personnel matters."

The city administrator declined our request for an interview.

Amber Leonard, who lives in Centralia, says the resignation was completely unexpected and wants answers from city officials.

"Why isn't the public being told about it? Nobody has," Leonard said. "There has not been anything announced about chief resigning, nothing. It's just, it's alarming."

Centralia's Mayor, Chris Cox, was out of the office Wednesday but over the phone, he mirrored the city administrator's response to personnel matters.

"Bottom line is, it's personnel," Cox said. "Confidentiality of employees, we can't discuss it."

Cox says Centralia is now looking for a new police chief and will announce an interim chief for the time being.

Russell confirmed an additional officer resigned Wednesday morning but wouldn't discuss the details of that resignation either.

"What's happening to our police department and why?" Leonard asked. "These are our boys in blue that protect our streets, and they're disappearing, and that's not normal, so that is a concern."

Cox says the city will go through due process to find a new police chief but the search has not yet started.

Stay with ABC 17 News for more information as this story develops.