HOLLY SPRINGS -- Long-time fire chief Cecil Parker has unexpectedly left his post here amid a state investigation into allegations of misconduct on his part.
Parker, 48, a 19-year town employee, submitted his letter of resignation last Thursday, and his tenure ended Friday. Town Manager Carl Dean said Parker cited "personal reasons" for his departure.
A State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman confirmed that the bureau began a probe of Parker's conduct in March 2010. Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby requested the investigation into "allegations of misconduct by Cecil Parker," Jennifer Canada said.
Canada declined to describe the nature of the allegations against Parker or further details of the ongoing investigation, citing bureau protocol. "Generally, we're very limited in what we can say," she said. Willoughby's office did not respond before press time to a request for comment.
Dean said he had heard no official word of the state's interest in Parker. "I know there are lots of rumors around," he said. "I've heard lots of different things, but I'm just dealing with the resignation and moving on."
Parker joined the town staff in 1992, when he left the Wake County Sheriff's Department to become Holly Springs' first police officer, according to former councilman Parrish Womble. The de facto police chief became the "chief of public safety" in 1995, then the fire chief in 2006.
Parker oversaw 36 employees as fire chief. His final salary was $99,984. The town said it was unclear whether he qualified for a pension.
The chief resigned of his own volition, Dean said.
Mayor Dick Sears said the chief had been accommodating and helpful during his tenure.
Dean expects to hire a new fire chief by the end of March.
