New details suggest Papis was forced out of position

By WEEK Producer

May 4, 2012 Updated May 4, 2012 at 10:24 PM CDT

EAST PEORIA, Ill. -- New details concerning the retirement of former East Peoria Police chief Ed Papis suggest he was forced out.

Papis announced his retirement last week.

The new interim chief -- R.T. Finney-- will step in to temporarily fill the position Monday, as officials search for a permanent replacement.

Via phone Friday, the attorney for the city of East Peoria Dennis Triggs told NEWS 25 and HOI 19, while some might call the former chief's policing style "pro-active", city officials saw it as "aggressive."

This after a recent investigation of the department by the city, that centered around accusations of racial profiling.

The city later determined the department had done nothing wrong.

Papis was reportedly asked by the city to resign.The request came with an offer of $125,000 and free healthcare for life. It would have cost the city roughly $15,000 more to fire Papis.

Despite all this, Triggs described the move as a "respectful separation from the city."

Our attempts to contact Papis were unsuccessful.

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