Montgomery Police Chief Announces Retirement at Heated News Conference
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Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Murphy has announced his retirement at a news conference that at times, became heated with Mayor Todd Strange. CBS 8 and ABC Montgomery had Live coverage of the news conference.
Murphy and Strange got into several heated exchanges throughout the one-hour announcement. One of their disagreements was over how a police department Christmas party was cancelled at the Renaissance Hotel. Murphy said it was cancelled by the city’s Public Safety Director Chris Murphy without they chief’s knowledge. The mayor said the city needed to watch its spending and that Chief Murphy didn’t have the authoritiy to enter into a contract to have the party.
Chief Kevin Murphy and Public Safety Director Chris Murphy are not related.
That was just one of several disagreements the police chief and the mayor had in front of the cameras and microphone at the news conference.
Chief Murphy will retire on September 30, the end of the fiscal year. Until then, he will remain on administrative leave. He took leave three weeks ago after the suicide of his twin brother Patrick Murphy. Patrick Murphy shot himself after being charged with leaving the scene of a wreck in Montgomery.
Chief Murphy said he wanted to return to the department, but that the mayor was not willing to allow him to do that. They had been in talks about having Murphy retire on December 31.
At the news conference, it was revealed that Chief Murphy had been under pressure. Strange said he and Murphy disagreed on management style and other issues.
Murphy has been with the department 28 years. He has been chief since 2011. Chief of Staff John Brown has been named interim police chief.
Stay with CBS 8 and ABC Montgomery for complete coverage and reaction.
