Simpsonville Officials to Meet after Police Chief Suspended

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ Officials in a South Carolina city that fired and then rehired its police chief are meeting in private after the law officer was suspended without pay.

Multiple media organizations report that Simpsonville’s city council is holding a special meeting Monday behind closed doors to discuss an employee’s job, promotion or release. Supporters of suspended Police Chief Keith Grounsell plan to protest hours later at city hall.

The police chief’s suspension comes after months of tension between Grounsell and a bitterly divided city council.

Grounsell was fired in December 2012, but reinstated more than a year later after municipal elections changed the city council’s makeup. New council members said Grounsell was wrongfully fired and parted ways with the city administrator.

Grounsell received compensation and a salary increase.