White Sulphur Springs Police Chief D.S. Teubert, who was involved in hiring former Cleveland officer Timothy Loehmann – known for fatally shooting 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, has resigned from his role. Teubert has returned to his previous position as a patrolman, as reported by WVVA-TV. The decision to step down comes after Loehmann resigned from the White Sulphur Springs police force last week, marking his third departure from a small police department in six years, amidst controversy surrounding his hiring.

Mayor Kathy Glover revealed that Teubert had recommended hiring Loehmann as a probationary officer, admitting at a town council meeting that she was unaware of Loehmann’s background and lacked essential information during the hiring process. Glover also extended an apology to the Rice family for the oversights in the hiring of Loehmann.

Tamir Rice, an African American child, was tragically shot and killed by Loehmann while playing with a pellet gun in Cleveland in 2014. The incident led to community outrage and protests over police treatment of Black individuals, particularly after a grand jury’s decision not to indict Loehmann or his partner.

Cleveland settled a lawsuit related to Tamir’s death for $6 million and later dismissed Loehmann from the police force for providing false information on his application. Following his tenure in Cleveland, Loehmann briefly held a position in Bellaire, Ohio, and later in Tioga, Pennsylvania, each time facing backlash and ultimately not working a single shift.

The new White Sulphur Springs Police Chief is Julian R. Byer Jr., who assumes the responsibility following Teubert’s resignation. As of now, there has been no response from the White Sulphur Springs police department, and Mayor Glover has not yet returned a request for comment. White Sulphur Springs is situated in southeastern West Virginia, known for the lavish Greenbrier resort owned by Republican Governor Jim Justice, near the Virginia border.