Chadbourn Chief of Police Anthony Spivey was placed on paid administrative lead Friday.
Mayor Phillip Britt said the town is conducting an internal investigation into “leadership issues.
“It’s early, very early,” Britt said. “We’re trying to determine right now what, if anything, needs to be done.”
Lt. Ken Elliot is the interim chief, and Britt said operations will not be affected.
Spivey has not been arrested, charged with a crime or fired, Britt said, adding that speculation about the reasons behind the leave is unfair to the town, department and the chief.
“He is on paid leave,” Britt said. “There’s not very much I can say at this time. He has not been suspended. I do not want to put anything out there right now that is wrong. He may well be back at work when this is complete.”
Spivey has been chief since 2017, when he was promoted from lieutenant. Crime rates have dropped and arrests risen every year since he took the reins of the department.
He has sparred with the town council on several occasions over officer pay, funding and most recently, a plan to put GPS monitors on town patrol vehicles. The monitors would be in addition to those already in use, and unlike the secure system, would have been accessible by town officials.
