Kirtland Hills Police Chief Gerald J. Smith Jr. has resigned after becoming the subject of a federal investigation for alleged theft of credit card and petty cash funds from the village.
Mayor John Turben announced Smith’s resignation, effective April 4, at the start of a Kirtland Hills City Council meeting Monday.
The mayor informed those in attendance that no further comment would be made because Smith remains under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland.
Turben said Smith’s resignation letter was short and to the point.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation, effective April 2, 2014, as Village of Kirtland Hills police chief,” Smith said.
“The village has a highly professional police department staffed with dedicated and honorable men and women and the service department team is highly motivated, competent and dedicated to the Kirtland Hills community.
“I love the village, its wonderful residents and all the employees, who I will sincerely miss,” he wrote.
A more than 25-year veteran police officer, Smith was placed on paid administrative leave March 17 after the investigation was disclosed.
Village officials and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have declined comment because of the ongoing investigation.
Council also did not disclose any information following an executive session called to discuss the investigation and charges against Smith.
Afterward, Turben said Sgt. Steve Payne would continue to serve as acting police chief.
How long Payne will remain in the post “will take some time to play out,” council President Paul Gum said following the meeting.
He added, “We have a lot of things to think about.”
Mayfield Heights attorney Michael Hennenberg, who represents Smith, said the former police chief resigned because “he felt it was in the best interest of all parties involved.”
The Kirtland Chronicle asked Hennenberg after the meeting if he had prior knowledge of Smith’s decision to resign.
“I have been working with the chief since his earlier administrative suspension,” he said. Since then, Hennenberg said he has been working with village legal counsel Virginia Davidson on “an accounting review to resolve any differences” in the credit card and pretty cash accounts.
Smith could not be reached for comment.