Marble Hill police chief resigns early

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Marble Hill police chief Scott Shaffer has resigned early.

The effective date of his resignation was set for Friday, but Shaffer was relieved of his duties last Wednesday. Marble Hill Police Sgt. Alan Stevens was named interim chief.

The next day, the Marble Hill board of aldermen met for special session and named Stevens chief of police. The board also voted to hire another police officer.

"We decided to promote from within," Mayor Nick Hendricks said.

Shaffer said the decision to resign was his.

Alan Stevens

"I've been doing this for 18 years," he said. "I need a break to pursue other interests now."

Shaffer said he plans to work as an over-the-road truck driver.

"He was a great chief of police," Hendricks said of Shaffer. "He helped the city tremendously."

Stevens, 31, has been with the Marble Hill Police Department four years, and served a year on the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department. He received his police training at Mineral Area College and graduated in 2008. He is a graduate of Marquand-Zion High School.

"I'm very pleased with the position and really look forward to taking the police department into the future," Stevens said. "I look forward to keeping on the forward path and keeping the respect of the citizens of Marble Hill."