FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey resigned Monday (March 14) and an interim chief was appointed.
Lindsey handed in his letter of resignation March 10 after reportedly making racist remarks in front of a city employee.
The former chief addressed the media Monday after moving up his final day of work to Monday. He originally said he'd be working at the department until April 11, but pushed up the date after the reason behind his resignation was revealed.
He made his announcement Monday in front of a room packed full of officers and citizens.
"Over the last several months, I have been under great personal stress, and that stress came out in an unprofessional and inappropriate comment a few days ago," Lindsey said. "I made apologies to the parties involved. I extend those apologies to each of you and the citizens of Fort Smith and my coworkers. I'm profoundly sorry for what happened, what was said, and that's all I can say at this point in time."
People both for and against the chief's resignation attended the press conference.
"It's overkill and it's much to do about nothing," said one supporter of the chief, former mayor Bill Vines. "It's political correctness run amok."
However, others supported the chief's decision to resign.
"Because of this statement he made, we will accept his resignation," said Leo Goode, a NAACP member. "Because that's not the way we feel."
The search for the new police chief is already underway. In the meantime, Major Dean Pitts has been named as the interim police chief.
Pitts is the Division Commander of the Administrative Support Services Division and has been with the Fort Smith Police Department since 1991. In his time with the department, he has served as a patrol officer, detective sergeant, patrol sergeant, and patrol watch commander. He graduated from the FBI National Academy and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
Pitts was with Lindsey when the chief allegedly made the racial remark, but Pitts will not be brought into the investigation of the incident, said city administrator Jeff Dingman.