WAVERLY, Va. (WTVR) - The treasurer of a small town in Virginia is making a big statement after town leaders opted not to renew the police chief's contract.
Pam Diehl said she never imagined she would walk off the job after 31 years.
Diehl said she resigned as treasurer Wednesday after the town council decided not to reappoint Waverly Police Chief Kevin Lands.
In fact, Tuesday night was the first meeting for four of the five recently elected town council members.
Their quick decision divided many of the town's 2300 residents.
In fact, some residents told CBS 6 News' Wayne Covil Thursday they think the chief and other officers have done a good job cutting down on crime. They worry his departure could mean trouble for the area.
Additionally, Diehl said the meeting had the largest public turnout in more than a decade. But she said the public's praise fell on deaf ears.
"I felt like I could no longer work with a mayor and town council that had a preset agenda and did not have the Town of Waverly's best interest at heart," Diehl told Covil from her front porch Thursday.
Mayor Walter Mason isn't saying much about Deihl's resignation.
"I have no comment on that, that's town's business," said Mason. "Like what happened with anybody else, that has a vacancy, it's going to be filled."
Additionally, Deihl said that there is no one to take her place at this point, since the town's longtime clerk recently retired.
Stay with CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for updates on this developing story.
