MEIGS — Meigs Chief of Police Gary Price said Wednesday the city’s mayor pro tem issued him a termination letter, but he does not believe the firing is legal.

The letter was only signed by Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Layton.

According to Price, the letter was given to him by Layton and Stephanie Battle, a city council member.

The letter states Price is being dismissed for “conducting and reflecting discredit on the city,” and alleges Price has been “rude and disrespectful to the citizens of [the] community and employees who have sought to interact and conduct proper business with the City of Meigs.”

Price said he has never received any written warnings or reprimands during his tenure as police chief.

Price said he believes former mayor Linda Harris is behind the effort to oust him from office and said he had seen Harris, Layton and Battle circling the police department in a vehicle prior to Layton and Battle showing up at his office to deliver the letter.

The chief said he used a police body camera to record his discussions with the two of them.

“Because I am an appointed employee, he has to have a council meeting and the council has to go by the charter and vote unanimously,” Price said.

Price said he notified other council members and the city attorney of the termination letter.

Price said he has been told the city is under a standing ordinance that removed executive powers from the mayor and transferred it to the city manager, and therefore he does not think Layton has the authority to fire him unilaterally.

He suggested the firing could stem from a dispute he had with the city’s administration regarding the mayor’s refusal to sign a check to pay for professional training he completed.

Price said that he is going to consult with his attorney.

“I know the citizens want me here, the remaining council wants me here,” Price said. “I can only do so much. This is the time the citizens need to pull together and the council needs to pull together and decide what it is that they want. If I am not providing the services that they need, then I need to look at removing myself from this environment.”

“I’m tired,” Price said. “I’m tired of fighting for a position that I am appointed with. I’m tired of fighting for a position where they promised me all these things and certain council members are just nitpicking, and it’s all at the direction of former mayor Linda Harris.”

Layton and Harris declined the opportunity to comment.

“What former mayor Harris needs to know is that the citizens as a whole, voted to have her removed out of office,” Price said. “The citizens have spoken, the citizens of Meigs have spoken.”

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826