Selma assistant police chief placed on leave

The city of Selma has announced that Assistant Chief of Police Natasha Fowlkes has been placed on  administrative leave with pay.

In a statement, the city says this action is pending the outcome of an internal  investigation. The statement says, “In order to maintain a high level of integrity and transparency, an outside  agency will lead the investigation.”

The statement says the investigation is in the preliminary stages. It says Fowlkes is now out of possible contact with the Selma Police Department.

Details of why Fowlkes was put on leave have not been revealed.

As Action 8 News has reported, Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford is also on paid leave. Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. put Fulford on leave in April.  Perkins said some reasons included a lack of professionalism at the police department, in addition to a lack of a proper response by police to calls for assistance from the school system.

Perkins had put Fulford on leave once before, but the Selma City Council reversed the action. Fulford’s fate could be decided as soon as June 24 when a hearing is scheduled.

In the meantime, an interim police chief has been named. Perkins named Johnathan Cole earlier this month. Cole works for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office as chief investigator and assistant chief.