The Town of Prosperity has fired its acting police chief.

Acting Police Chief Scott Wilson was fired from the department Friday morning due to insubordination.

Wilson says this charge grew from his being told to do double duty for the town-and a subsequent conflict of interest.

The Prosperity police chief's job duties included ]acting as both the head of police and as clerk of court. Wilson added that during a training session at the Criminal Justice Academy he learned it was a conflict for someone to serve in both positions. The clerk of court's duties include selecting jurors for the police department's cases.

That led Wilson to ask the State Attorney General for an opinion in the matter.

Mark Plowden, spokesperson with the Attorney General's office, told The Observer that “if his office were officially asked this question” they would find that it would be dual office holding, which is not proper.

Wilson claims that because he asked the question, Town Administrator Karen Livingston believed he was being insubordinate to her.

Mayor Larry Spotts said all of the town council supported Livingston's belief.

With a Sheriff's Office deputy present, Wilson was relieved of his duties Friday morning.

Spotts said the town will not hire a new acting police chief immediately, but hopes to hire a full-time police chief by January.

As for now, officers will answer to Livingston.

“(Wilson) was always a good officer, but within the last year things have gone downhill,” said Spotts.

Wilson filed grievance paperwork with the town this morning, is seeking an attorney's advice about the matter.

Wilson was appointed acting police chief when former chief Benji Sease stepped down due to being injured by a prisoner in January 2006.

The Sheriff's Office will assist the remaining three officers with patrols and as needed.