The city of Decherd has appointed interim Police and Fire Chiefs following the resignation of Public Safety Director Ross Peterson last week. According to City Administrator Rex Clark Kenneth Griffin has been named interim Police Chief and Charles Williams is the interim Fire Chief.
Clark added the Board of Mayor and Alderman will consider whether to hire a new public safety director to oversee both the Police and Fire departments, as Peterson did, or keep separate heads of the Police and Fire departments. However, that decision is not expected to be made imminently.
Peterson had come under fire for his hiring of former Decherd Police Officer Matthew Ward who was involved in a road rage incident in Rutherford County. Some city leaders believed Peterson didn’t vet Ward thoroughly enough.
Peterson has also been accused of harassment by Decherd Patrol Sargent Bruce Elliot.