Town police chief resigns
By Eric Beidel -Staff Writer

Warrenton Police Chief Roger Paul quit last Friday, more than two months before his contract with the town expired.

Newly-hired Deputy Chief Connie Novak, who started Tuesday, will act as chief for the time being, she said.

"We knew it was a possibility," Ms. Novak said of Mr. Paul's resignation, "but not necessarily that it would happen now."

The 47-year-old learned Friday that the former chief had "turned in his papers."
She had met the former chief only once, at a town council meeting earlier this month. Mr. Paul did not participate in the town's five-month search for a deputy chief.

Instead, Town Manager Ken McLawhon and council members enlisted the help of a police chief from Franklin City to screen applicants for the new position.

Mr. McLawhon did not renew Mr. Paul's contract, which would have expired Jan. 3, 2006, and the former chief in recent months told fellow officers that he would not be back next year.

Town officials refuse to discuss Mr. Paul's departure.

Richmond attorney Carter Glass IV, who represents the town in personnel and other matters, confirmed that Friday was Mr. Paul's last day.

The town hired Mr. Paul in 2000. His five years as Warrenton's police chief included plenty of controversy.

One of his former officers went to trial in May on charges he roughed up a suspect after a high-speed chase. A judge found Steven Brubaker, now a Fauquier deputy, not guilty of assault.

Mr. Paul alleged that Mr. Brubaker and another officer had initiated a smear campaign against the chief when the police department reported the alleged assault to state police, according to documents filed in Fauquier County General District Court.

Sgt. Kerry White has filed several grievances and lawsuits against the town and police department, alleging discrimination and unlawful hirings and promotions.

Judges over the past two months dismissed each of Sgt. White's complaints.

Mr. Paul also had a strained relationship with Mr. McLawhon and Town Attorney Whit Robinson, who for months have refused to discuss Mr. Paul's employment contract.
Mr. Paul will not receive his final two months of pay, according to terms described in the contract, which requires an employee to give two months notice of a resignation, "unless the parties otherwise agree."

Mr. McLawhon would not say whether he and Mr. Paul reached any agreement other than that laid out in the employment contract, under which the former chief earned $78,843 a year.

It remains unclear when Mr. Paul notified officials of his resignation.

"If he gave advanced notice, it wasn't much," Ms. Novak said, sitting in the former chief's office.

She could become the permanent police chief.

"I don't know what's going to happen; it's just wait and see," she said.

"Right now, she's wearing both hats," Mr. McLawhon said. "She's deputy chief and acting chief. It's her second day, she's getting her feet wet."

Ms. Novak, who lives in Warrenton, retired after 20 years with the Fairfax County Police Department.

She earns $60,000 a year, heading a police department with 21 sworn officers and an annual budget of almost $2 million.

• You can contact Eric Beidel at (540) 347-5522, extension 242
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