Heflin Mayor Anna Berry, citing budget and staffing issues, has relieved Helfin Police Chief Ty Payne of his duties as chief of police.

“I am very disappointed that we have not been able to find a resolution to these issues. Chief Payne has contributed in many ways to our department during the time he has been with the city and I am sad to make this change,” said Mayor Berry in a release.

She said that in the interim, officer A.J. Benefield has been named interim captain and will handle personnel and staffing while the search for a new chief is underway.

Payne made the following statement, “To the citizens of Heflin, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve. I’m in a position where I cannot elaborate on the current situation. I have been asked by the mayor’s office to do some things that I believe are unethical and will be a great liability to the City of Heflin. I refused to do these things that are against my ethics and better judgement. Because I refused, I am on paid administrative leave, my former investigator laid off without reason. I was advised by the mayor’s office if I did not do these things, she would find somebody that would. Apparently she has.”