CLARKSVILLE (KFSM) – The Clarksville police chief has been fired and says he is appealing the firing in an effort to get his job back.
Greg Donaldson, 45, was fired by Mayor Mark Simpson about 6 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 4), the former chief told 5NEWS.
Donaldson said he was not given a reason for being fired but suspects it was because he wanted to fill three vacancies in the department over the mayor’s objection.
Donaldson said he filed an appeal on Thursday morning (Feb. 5) and requested an expedited decision by the City Council. The council is expected to take up the issue on Monday (Feb. 9), Donaldson said.
“I’ll respect their decision,” he said.
Simpson told 5NEWS he has appointed Kevin Weathers, a current member of the police department, as interim chief.
Donaldson said he has served Clarksville in law enforcement for 27 years, including the last eight years as police chief.
As Clarksville police chief, Donaldson said his salary was $56,000 a year.
Donaldson became engaged in December 2014 and said between him and his fiancée, the two have six children.
Since being fired, Donaldson said he has been “overwhelmed” by kindness from the community.
