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| Charlottesville police chief retires after criticism of response to violent rally | Charlottesville police chief retires after criticism of response to violent rally |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Charlottesville’s police chief, who oversaw the department’s widely criticized response to a violent white nationalist rally this summer, retired on Monday, effective immediately. | |
| In a brief statement, the city did not give a reason for Chief Al Thomas’s departure. | In a brief statement, the city did not give a reason for Chief Al Thomas’s departure. |
| Earlier this month, a former federal prosecutor released a report that was sharply critical of Thomas’s “slow-footed response” as the violence began to escalate on 12 August, the day of the “Unite the Right” rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists from across the county. | Earlier this month, a former federal prosecutor released a report that was sharply critical of Thomas’s “slow-footed response” as the violence began to escalate on 12 August, the day of the “Unite the Right” rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists from across the county. |
| White nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest against a plan to remove a statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacy’s top general in the American civil war. | White nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest against a plan to remove a statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacy’s top general in the American civil war. |
| Demonstrators chanted racist statements, carried antisemitic placards and held torches during the “Unite the Right” rally, which was organised by white nationalist Jason Kessler. | Demonstrators chanted racist statements, carried antisemitic placards and held torches during the “Unite the Right” rally, which was organised by white nationalist Jason Kessler. |
| The march was met by anti-fascist demonstrators, and some skirmishes broke out before James Fields, 20, allegedly ploughed a car into a group of counter-demonstrators. | The march was met by anti-fascist demonstrators, and some skirmishes broke out before James Fields, 20, allegedly ploughed a car into a group of counter-demonstrators. |
| Civil rights activist Heather Heyer, 32, died and others were injured. Fields has been charged with murder. | Civil rights activist Heather Heyer, 32, died and others were injured. Fields has been charged with murder. |
| Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old civil rights activist, was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of people who were peacefully protesting against the rally. | |
| The report also said Thomas deleted relevant text messages and made officers fearful of retaliation for speaking with investigators. | The report also said Thomas deleted relevant text messages and made officers fearful of retaliation for speaking with investigators. |
| Kevin Martingayle, an attorney for Thomas, has said the chief disputes that he deleted text messages. Martingayle did not immediately return a message from the Associated Press seeking comment on Monday. | |
| The city manager, Maurice Jones, called Thomas “a man of integrity who has provided critical leadership for our department since his arrival”. | The city manager, Maurice Jones, called Thomas “a man of integrity who has provided critical leadership for our department since his arrival”. |
| “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” he said. | “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” he said. |
| Thomas said in the statement: “Nothing in my career has brought me more pride than serving as the police chief for the city of Charlottesville. I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to protect and serve a community I love so dearly.” | Thomas said in the statement: “Nothing in my career has brought me more pride than serving as the police chief for the city of Charlottesville. I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to protect and serve a community I love so dearly.” |
| The deputy police chief, Gary Pleasants, will guide the department until an interim chief is formally appointed within the next week, the city’s statement said. | The deputy police chief, Gary Pleasants, will guide the department until an interim chief is formally appointed within the next week, the city’s statement said. |
| A veteran of the air force, Thomas was appointed police chief in April 2016 and began his service the following month, according to the statement. | A veteran of the air force, Thomas was appointed police chief in April 2016 and began his service the following month, according to the statement. |
| Before joining the Charlottesville police department, Thomas had served as the police chief in Lexington, Virginia, since 2010. Before that, he spent 20 years with the Lynchburg police department. | |
| Thomas had not publicly discussed plans to step down or retire. | Thomas had not publicly discussed plans to step down or retire. |