City says police chief will retire
Retirement announced following investigation into police department
Firestone on Friday announced the retirement of Chief of Police David Montgomery.
“Chief Montgomery served the Firestone community from 1999 to
2021,” a news release states. “In the early years of his appointment, the chief served the community with only two other officers. Under his authority, the department grew and now consists of 28 sworn officers and four civilian employees.”
Early this year, the town announced that Montgomery was on paid administrative leave during an investigation into “allegations of misconduct,” but did not provide details into exactly what the allegations were, according to past reporting. Montgomery still earned his annual salary of $144,826 while on leave.
In June, Firestone Board of Trustees heard from Alan Youngs, a former chief of the Lakewood Police Department and an attorney, who was hired by the board in April to investigate the police department.
Officials said the investigation revealed many instances in which the police chief showed nepotism, failure to follow various federally or state-mandated protocols and other issues.
Youngs said during the investigation that he inter viewed 26 out of 27 of the Firestone police officers.
Of those officers, about 92% said they do not want Montgomery to return to the department.
Officials with Firestone did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication Friday regarding what this will mean for the investigation or what the next steps are to replace Montgomery.