(AP) – The police chief and three officers who make up the entire four-person police department of the town of Geary, Oklahoma, and two of the town’s city council members have resigned with little explanation.

Former Police Chief Alicia Ford did not address specific reasons for Thursday’s resignations, but wrote in a social media post that the decision was difficult.

“It is with great sadness that I and the other Geary police officers will no longer serve this community, but this was the right decision for me and the other officers,” Ford wrote.

Without going into much detail, Ford encouraged residents of the roughly 1,000 town about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City to meet with the city council and “get as involved in the city as possible, especially by attending city council meetings.” ”

Ford did not immediately return a phone message for comment Saturday.

A woman who called Saturday to a number listed for Mayor Waylan Upchego said “no at this time” when a reporter asked to speak with Upchego about the resignations.

The city thanked the former chief and officers in a statement while wishing them well and said an interim police chief has been selected and that the Blaine County and Canadian County sheriff’s offices will help patrol the town.

“We would like to inform our citizens that we are conducting business as usual,” according to the statement. “If you have an emergency, please call 911 as you normally would and an officer will be dispatched to assist you.”

City Council members Glen “Rocky” Coleman Jr. and Kristy Miller also announced their resignations, leaving only one member on the four-person council due to a previous vacancy.

Coleman wrote on social media that his values ​​did not align with the city’s direction and said communication between the administration and the council was “significantly lacking” but did not provide further clarification.

“Council members are the last to know anything,” Coleman wrote. “There are often times when I won’t know something is planned until the meeting starts.”

Miller did not immediately answer the number listed for him.

The city has not released the identity of the interim chief, but JJ Stitt, who describes himself as a 27-year law enforcement veteran, a county deputy, a member of a task force investigating internet crimes against children and a distant cousin of Gov. Kevin Stitt. – He told The Oklahoman that he was the interim chief.

Stitt did not answer the number listed for him but told the newspaper he hoped to add officers in the coming days. He said he had the “ability” to pick up the phone and send experienced officers into town to help.

“I’ve been in the game a long time,” Stitt said.

Resignations come after more than a year entire police force A man from the small town of Goodhue, Minnesota, resigned over low pay.

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