WDAM.com Laurel-Hattiesburg, MS The Pinebelt's Choice For News, Sports and Weather | New Augusta police chief says he was fired without warning

"The Mayor gave me a phone call and told me that the board had voted not to rehire me, and I had asked him for what reason?" Gates said at that time he could not give him a reason.

Nine week later, he still has no answer.

Gates said on Oct. 13 he attended the Board of Alderman meeting, and it was business as usual, but later he received a phone call from the Mayor saying after a three-to-one vote his termination was effective immediately. 

Back in May, Gates heard rumors a resident was being influenced to run in the upcoming election for the board of alderman, and if this person was elected Gates termination would be first on his agenda.

"I didn't think anything about it, and shortly after the election in June, around August of this year, another concerned citizen came by my office, and we sat and talked and he made the very same statement to me. I told him that I had heard it also but I still didn't think anything about it."  

Since being terminated, Gates has only been in contact with one alderman, the one who voted to keep him as Chief.

"My reputation is being smeared and I don't think that's right. I want to make it clear to the public why I was not re hired as chief of police of New Augusta."