NASHVILLE, Ind. — The Nashville police chief has been removed from her position following two years in the role.
The Nashville Town Council unanimously voted to remove Heather Burris during a meeting Monday. As of Tuesday, Burris is now classified as a merit officer within the department’s ranks.
The council proceeded to name Sergeant Daniel Scott Bowling as the department’s interim police chief while the department begins the search for a new permanent police chief. Burris served as the town’s police chief since 2022.
The exact reasons behind Burris’ termination were not provided by town council members during Monday’s meeting. The regular meeting followed an executive session that took place behind closed doors.
“We have determined that Chief Heather Burris does not have a current contract. We are a very small department and a small town and over 60% of our budget goes to the police department,” the council said during a recorded audio of Monday’s meeting. “We cannot afford to do anything that is not helping the residents of this town and right now, we don’t feel the residents are getting the best protection. We have little precious resources to spend and we have to ensure that they are spent carefully.”
The council went on to state that an investigation into Burris’ performance has been ongoing for the last “six to eight months” but did not go into the specifics of the reasons for Burris’ termination.
The council also referenced a letter that was sent by the town’s attorney to Burris outlining the reasons why Burris has been removed from the role. As of this article’s publication, FOX59/CBS4 has not obtained a copy of this letter.
“I want everyone here to know that no matter the outcome of this, this will not change who I am at the core,” Burris told FOX59/CBS4. “Without the community and without the support I wouldn’t be able to be successful.”
Burris’ contract with the Nashville Police Department expired in December of last year as the council decided not to renew the contract during Monday’s meeting.
The decision came as a surprise to the community, including new interim chief Bowling, who described the decision as a “shock.”
“What her issues were – I have no idea. The council, apparently, has been looking into her since December when her contract was up, trying to decide whether to renew her contract or not… It came to this point where they decided not to renew it,” Bowling said.
Bowling said Burris will remain an employee with NPD but will be working in a new capacity.
“She was well-loved in the community. She did a lot of community policing,” Bowling said. “She was great at it. And I asked her if she would continue that for me or whoever comes next after me and she agreed. She wants to stay.”
The new interim police chief praised Burris for her determination to remain with the department.
“She’s tough, to go through what she just went through and still wants to stick around and be here, that says a lot for her character,” Bowling said.
According to the Nashville Police Department, Burris began her career in law enforcement in 2008 when she was hired to work as an EMT/volunteer firefighter. Eight years later, Burris was a member of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s 12th recruit class.
The next regular Nashville Town Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
