The city of Apple Valley is searching for a new fire chief after Nealon Thompson resigned from the position effective Oct. 24.
City Administrator Tom Lawell said Thompson contacted him on April 28 to report he had “engaged in unprofessional conduct,” and Thompson was placed on administrative leave.
The conduct was investigated through the city attorney’s office and the investigation found that Thompson’s conduct “could give rise to discipline.” When Thompson was presented with the findings, he said he didn’t want his actions to reflect negatively on the fire department, so he decided to resign effective Oct. 24, Lawell said.
Lawell said he couldn’t elaborate on the details of Thompson’s unprofessional conduct, except to say that Thompson had been involved with “participating in an inappropriate relationship.” He had no knowledge of the unprofessional conduct prior to Thompson contacting him, and he’s not aware of any criminal charges that could come from the relationship, he added.
Thompson joined the department as a paid-on-call firefighter in August 1991 and was promoted to deputy fire chief in October 2007. He had been the chief since September 2008, according to the city.