The mayor of Clendenin recently fired city police Chief David Brinckman, citing the need for a change in leadership.
Brinckman's termination went into effect on Tuesday. He could not be reached for comment.
Mayor Shana Trippett Clendenin said she alone made the choice to fire Brinckman. The choice was not a result of misconduct, she said, but rather an effort to move the city in new directions.
"It was just an administrative decision," she said. "This is not uncommon for a new administration to overhaul the police department."
Residents voted Trippett Clendenin into office less than a month ago. She said crucial issues fell to the wayside in recent years, and her goal is to change that.
Her plan includes hiring a new police chief and up to three certified officers to work part-time.
An interim chief was expected to start Wednesday. However, Trippett Clendenin said she already has an "overwhelming response" from applicants who wish to permanently fill the position.
"In an effort to kind of bridge the communication and the cooperation with other agencies in the Kanawha Valley, it's something that's going to help that," she said, referring to the decision to oust Brinckman.
While praising the city's local police force, Trippett Clendenin also said its officers lack the resources to tackle every case.
Scarce resources, she said, lead some officers to leave the department for a job with better opportunities.
"They get certified, they get trained and then, you know, a lot of times they move on because of money or benefits or things like that," she said.
Trippett Clendenin said crime is found both within the city and just outside its borders, especially when it comes to illegal drugs.
In the interest of forging a relationship with nearby law enforcement, Trippett Clendenin spoke with Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford this week.
She also offered his agency a key to the Clendenin Police Department so deputies can use the facility.
In a prepared statement to the Gazette-Mail, Rutherford said his office looks forward to working with law enforcement in Clendenin.
"We strive to have strong relationships with each agency in our area, because criminals don't stay inside city limits or county lines," he said. "It takes us working together to see patterns, find fugitives, and solve crimes."
Reach Giuseppe Sabella at giuseppe.sabella@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5189 or follow @Gsabella on Twitter.