The city council unanimously decided to fire its police chief, Rachel Kopman, Monday night after she didn't show up for a second hearing to talk about her suspension.

The Centerville city council listed seven reasons to fire Rachel Kopman before they unanimously voted to let her go.
The council says in her year and a half as police chief she failed to follow up on investigations, complaints, and criminal activity, as well as intimidating council members about the budget, and calling the mayor and council members 'backstabbers,' and 'two-faced.'

After an hour long executive session, and hearing from several witnesses behind closed doors, the city council took away her job. Centerville mayor Jay Ostrem says the situation started to escalate back in October when the council said city employees would be getting a three percent raise.

"The chief did ask above and beyond that and it wasn't granted and that appears to be where things started," Centerville mayor Jay Ostrem said.

The mayor says that's when the council suspended Kopman without pay. City records show Kopman made about 50 thousand dollars a year.

Kopman told KELOLAND News the situation isn't about money. Kopman says she told the city council she wouldn't be showing up to any of their hearings a week in advance. Kopman says she isn't going to talk with anyone until her and her attorney, Bill Janklow, got the results back from an independent investigation.

"The truth will come out in the end, and we look forward to the results of the investigation," Kopman said. 

In the meantime part time police officers are covering Centerville police calls for the now fired chief.

"Most of them have other full time jobs, one of them is attending the academy at this time, but they've been stepping up and filling some eight to 12 hour shifts," Ostrem said.

The council said Monday night Kopman would also refuse to maintain a regular work schedule and time cards.

Kopman says this entire situation started as retaliation after she reported some bad behavior of the council and mayor.