Update 2:40 p.m.: Police Chief Joe Payne wrote in an email to Patch Monday afternoon that he and the city manager arrived at a separation agreement, and that he harbors no ill will toward the city.
"This was mutually agreed upon with the city manager. He has the sole responsibility regarding my position as chief. I am an at-will employee and I respect his authority as city manager.
"He did not give me a specific reason, and I can only speculate as to how this came about. We have arrived at a separation agreement and I do not wish to speak ill of the city manager, the department, or the city. After 40 years on the department, I am proud of my service and what I’ve accomplished as chief. There is much more left to do, and I will work with the interim chief and future permanent chief to help implement some of the reform necessary,'' Payne said.
Earlier: South Pasadena Police Chief Joe Payne has submitted his resignation, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez told Patch on Monday.
Payne, who held the top spot for less than three years, was not immediately available for comment.
Gonzalez wrote in an email to Patch, "[Payne] will remain on the job until I have selected an interim police chief. I anticipate that we will have an interim chief for a few months because hiring a new permanent chief requires an extensive search and comprehensive selection process.''
Payne retired from the department in 2007 after 35 years on the job. Three years later, in September 2010, then-City Manager John Davidson appointed him chief of police. At the time, members of the public complained about the selection process and argued that former Chief Dan Watson had been driven out. Watson is now the Mammoth Lakes police chief.
During his brief retirement, Payne worked as a background investigator for the Los Angeles Police Department, according to a Pasadena Star News article.
Check back on South Pas Patch as more information about the chief's departure becomes available.
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