The sudden retirement of Charlottesville, Virginia's police chief was announced Monday amid criticism of the department's handling of violent white nationalist rally earlier this year.
Police Chief Al Thomas, who served in the role for about 18 months, volunteered to step down from the position, City Manager Maurice Jones told the City Council during a public meeting, according to The Daily Progress.
Jones will formally appoint an interim police chief in the next week, and Deputy Chief Gary Pleasants will lead the department until then.
Thomas, who was sworn in as chief on May 23, 2016, leaves the department following an independent review of the city's handling of a series of events this year, including the deadly Aug. 12 white nationalist rally.
The review alleged that Thomas tried to hide material from investigators and allowed fighting in and around Emancipation Park on the morning of the rally so that an unlawful assembly could be declared.
"Nothing in my career has brought me more pride than serving as the police chief for the city of Charlottesville," Thomas said in a statement. "I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to protect and serve a community I love so dearly. It truly has been an unparalleled privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and professional team of public servants. I wish them and the citizens of Charlottesville the very best."
