LAFAYATTE, Tenn.- The top cop in one local town has decided to step down weeks after his department became the subject of TBI Investigation.
"Ray was a good Police Chief," Mayor Richard Driver said. "He served well and it was unfortunate that he had to resign."
Friday was the last day for Lafayette Police Chief Ray Amalfitano after twelve years with the department. He spent the last year as Chief.
"I didn't even know he was resigning," resident Christine Moore said. "So now that I do know, we're really going to miss him."
District Attorney Tommy Thompson said the TBI is investigating whether officers punched Keith Pippin after he was arrested in March. They charged Pippin with public intoxication at his child's elementary school. While Pippin accused officers of assaulting him, he did not file a formal complaint. Thompson said the police department didn't investigate the matter either.
"There were some issues going on," Driver added. "Ray realized the best thing he could do was resign." When asked if the TBI probe prompted Almafitano's resignation Driver said, "well that was part of it but there were other issues too."
In his resignation letter Amalfitano said "due to recent events, it has been made very difficult for me to effectively perform my duties as Chief of Police."
NewsChannel 5 has confirmed that Amalfitano is a finalist for a job with the Portland Police Department that's pending the outcome of the investigation. A spokeswoman for the TBI said the investigation is ongoing and it will be turned over to the District Attorney once it's complete.
In the meantime, Mayor Driver will name an interim Police Chief. He hopes to hire someone permanently by October.
