Brookhaven’s former assistant police chief was reinstated Tuesday night, though only for a one-month period.

Clint Earls was notified by the Board of Aldermen on Friday, Jan. 19, that he must resign by 5 p.m. that day or be terminated, according to the City Clerk’s office. Earls was informed of the decision that afternoon after a closed-door executive session of the board.

The vote to relieve Earls of duty was 5-2, with aldermen Charles Caston Sr. (Ward 3) and Fletcher Grice (Ward 5) voting against the move. The other board members voted for the termination — James Magee Jr. (Ward 1), Shannon Moore (Ward 2), Jeff Henning (Ward 4), Andre’ Spiller (Ward 6), and Don Underwood (at-large).

Earls had 10 days to appeal the decision through the City Clerk’s Office, but opted to approach the matter through an attorney instead.

This week, Earls and his attorney met with the Board in executive session. Afterward, the former assistant chief — now a probation and parole officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections — said the board had reinstated him for the period of Jan. 19 through Feb. 20. The dates correspond to the time between his termination and the beginning of his employ with MDOC.

Earls will be paid his former salary for that time period, plus any accrued time owed. He will also receive his service weapon as an employee who resigned or retired. The vote by the Board was a unanimous 6-0. Magee was not present.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” said Alderman Grice.