The Centralia Board of Aldermen selected Nat Stoebe to serve as interim police chief.
The move comes after Police Chief Bob Bias resigned effective Sunday. Three more officers have also resigned.
The board also approved a third party legal counsel to look into "impropriety" within the city's administration.
The board went into a closed meeting just after 5:30 p.m. and returned at around 6:40 p.m. to a large audience in the council chamber. The meeting lasted until 7:45 p.m. with multiple Centralia residents voicing their concerns on the lack of transparency between the board and residents.
"What I would like is some accountability and transparency," one concerned Centralia resident said.
During the public comment, Bias said he had been asked for his resignation on Sept. 23 and submitted it on Sept. 24. He said he was told the leadership of the police department was "not going the way it should have."
"I know not what tomorrow holds, but I know for sure who holds tomorrow and it’s not any of the people in this room,” Bias said.
Three other officers resigned between Oct. 4-8. No specific reason was given for the resignations.
The Boone County Sheriff's Department is assisting to provide "full coverage," according to previous reporting.
Centralia residents have held protests asking for more transparency within the police department.
Residents say they were surprised at his resignation.
The search for a permanent police chief has begun and will continue through Nov. 3 or until the position is filled permanently.
