City of Newton Police Chief Harvey Curry has been terminated by the Newton Board of Aldermen during a regular meeting Tuesday night.
The move came during a nearly 90-minute executive session, which included a meeting with Eighth District Attorney Steven Kilgore behind closed doors for about 30 minutes. After he left the executive session, Newton County Chief Deputy Kris Hollingsworth arrived a few minutes later at City Hall and entered the executive session.
City Attorney Brian Mayo asked Curry to come into the executive session. After meeting with the board, Curry and Hollingsworth exited the executive session and left City Hall quietly.
After reopening the meeting, Mayor Murray Weems announced to the audience, which included other department supervisors, that Curry was no longer the police chief.
Weems also announced that Randy Patrick was hired as the new police chief. His start date was not announced, but Weems said Patrick would have to work out a two-week notice prior to him taking the job.
The Mayor also said assistant chief Johnny Martin will serve as acting chief until Patrick can start.
Weems, however, did not immediately give a reason for the dismissal or confirm if it had to do with a pending criminal case.
“I cannot comment further on this at time,” Weems said.
Mayo confirmed via text message after the meeting that the action was a termination and not a resignation.
“All I can say is that Harvey Curry is no longer the police chief at this time,” Mayo said immediately following the meeting.
