Town of Ozark fires police chief amid misconduct claims

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An Alabama city fired its police chief and another ranking officer over what the mayor described as allegations of inappropriate, unprofessional behavior.

Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship told a news conference Wednesday that an investigation preceded the removal of Chief Marlos Walker and Capt. Tim Hicks.

Without providing details on what had occurred, Blankenship said the violations involved more of a policy issue and a legal or criminal matter.

Blankenship said he and the city clerk had questioned several current and former city workers, and the findings resulted in a City Council vote to remove Walker on Tuesday night. Hicks was then removed because of “policy and procedural violations,” the mayor said.

Neither Walker nor Hicks has commented publicly. A retired state trooper, Charles Ward, was appointed interim police chief.

Ozark is a city of about 15,000, located in southeast Alabama.