Forest Park council affirms termination of Police Chief Brandon Chris, names deputy chief Smith interim

The Forest Park mayor and council on May 19 voted to affirm the city manager’s recommendation to terminate Police Chief Brandon Chris and appointed Deputy Chief Smith as interim police chief.

At a special-called appeal hearing convened by the mayor, the council reviewed an outside investigative report that the city manager’s office said documented chronic absences, manipulation of time records, procurement irregularities, compromised internal controls and security concerns at the 911 center. The city manager’s representative told the council the report supports a change in leadership at the police department.

Chief Brandon Chris disputed those findings in a 30-minute presentation and slide deck, calling for “a fair and unbiased, transparent process” and arguing the investigation expanded beyond administrative time-and-attendance concerns. “There was no personal gain alleged, no criminal charges filed,” Chris said, and he repeatedly disputed the investigator’s interpretation of calendars, telework days and documentation. His attorney, Nathan Wade, urged the council to focus on the evidence presented and noted that Chris was advised of Garrity rights during the investigation.

Why it matters: the council’s decision ends Chief Chris’s tenure and places a deputy chief in charge during the city’s transition. Council discussion highlighted competing priorities: some members emphasized procedural and evidentiary gaps in the investigation and expressed support for the chief’s community engagement; others cited the investigative findings and administrative concerns that prompted the manager’s action.

What the report alleged and the chief’s response The city’s representative summarized the investigation as finding multiple violations of city policies, including failures to account for work time and procurement irregularities. In response, Chief Chris said he had been out on approved telework and flex days, said he kept public-facing communications and crime statistics available to demonstrate transparency, and denied instructing staff to misrepresent his whereabouts. On procurement, Chris acknowledged split funding for a neighborhood camera initiative but denied concealment or personal profit. On the allegation that a child was allowed into the 911 operations room, Chris said the visit was brief, supervised and arose from an employee’s extenuating circumstances; council members raised concerns about potential liability and appropriate procedures for the dispatch center.

Exchanges on records and timing Several council members pressed Chris for supporting documentation after the city sought records to determine a payout for unused leave; the inquiry into those time and leave records triggered broader review. Chris and his counsel said responsive records were produced late and sometimes in incomplete batches, which hindered preparation. Council members said the investigative report included documentary evidence, witness testimony and risk findings; one member said the report identified “institutional deception” and a pattern of governance failures.

Vote and next steps After recessing into executive session, the council reconvened and a motion to affirm the city manager’s recommendation and to appoint Deputy Chief Smith as interim police chief passed on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded Councilmember James and Councilmember Gunn voting in the affirmative and Councilmember Gutierrez voting no; Councilmember Mears was also recorded as voting in the affirmative; the transcript did not record one member’s roll-call response.

Officials’ comments and procedural notes Chief Chris told the council he appreciated the opportunity to serve and asked them to consider the totality of his service. The city’s interim manager and counsel were present; the city representative reiterated the office stands by the investigative record. The mayor reminded the council that under city code an overturning of the manager’s termination action would require three affirmative votes; in this case the council upheld the manager’s recommendation.

What happens now: the council appointed Deputy Chief Smith as interim police chief; the transcript does not record any immediate legal challenges. The personnel action was decided in a public meeting after executive session and recorded by roll call.