by Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com editor
MOUNT VERNON – With little fanfare, Mount Vernon’s police chief retired last Friday, December 6, 2013, according to Mayor Richard Mavis. Mike Merrilees had 25 years in the department and had been on administrative leave for several months. That leave came after Merrilees, along with Detective Sgt. Kit Morgan, became the subjects of an investigation into alleged illegal activity at the city impound lot regarding parking meters and how an impounded vehicle was handled. That investigation was sparked by a series of articles in the Mount Vernon News . The investigation is still not complete and at last report from a spokesperson at the Ohio Attorney General’s office, it’s “ongoing.”
For now, acting MVPD chief Geoge Hartz will continue in that role. There will be a competitive testing process to select the new permanent MVPD head. Mavis says a new permanent chief will likely not be selected until March or April of 2014.
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Retired MVPD Chief Mike Merrilees
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