Timeline of events in the Tarrillion investigation

Eight months have passed since a Perryville Police Department employee raised questions about former chief Keith Tarrillion's professional conduct, prompting an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The status of that investigation is unclear.

Here is a timeline of events in the investigation:

Feb. 6: Perryville officials, including the city attorney, city administrator and human resource officer, meet with a police department employee to discuss allegations of conduct by Tarrillion "inconsistent with his official character and duty."

Feb. 13: The Perryville Board of Aldermen meets in closed session to discuss the allegations.

Feb. 14: Tarrillion meets with city leaders and is presented with the allegations against him.

Feb. 21: The Southeast Missourian reports Tarrillion is taking a voluntary leave of absence while the city investigates the allegations.

March 5: City leaders review the evidence against Tarrillion in a closed meeting; Tarrillion posts a message on his Facebook page, saying he is unhappy they have made "no decision on when I can return to work."

March 12: City attorney Thomas Ludwig presents the board of aldermen with information from Tarrillion's attorney about the conditions under which Tarrillion is willing to resign. Ludwig says the city has called in Paul Nenninger, a former Secret Service agent from Cape Girardeau, to investigate the allegations against Tarrillion, and the results of that investigation -- which include a 2010 report of property damage at Tarrillion's house, filed under another officer's name -- will be forwarded to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

March 13: Tarrillion turns in his resignation.

March 14: Tarrillion posts a message on Facebook, saying he wasn't given a chance to defend himself.

March 18: Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis blocks an open-records request from the Southeast Missourian seeking documents related to the investigation. Lewis issues a temporary restraining order and sets a March 27 date to hear a petition for a preliminary injunction to keep the city from releasing documents.

March 19: The board of aldermen accepts Tarrillion's resignation. Under a memorandum of understanding between Tarrillion and the city, unless he is convicted of a crime or finds other employment, Tarrillion will continue to receive his full pay and benefits until his term of office expires April 1.

March 27: Lewis says he will make a decision on the Southeast Missourian's open-records request by the close of business March 28.

March 28: Lewis approves the release of some records but says Nenninger's report must remain closed until the investigation becomes inactive. Tarrillion releases a statement challenging the credibility of the investigation and denying the accusations. In his statement, he says he was not given the opportunity to defend himself.

April 3: Ludwig meets with police officers. The board discusses its options for filling Tarrillion's position until the next election.

April 22: The board holds a special meeting to appoint Lt. Direk Hunt interim chief.

May 7: The board discusses appointing a 13-member citizens advisory committee to research the city's options and make recommendations about the process by which it selects its chief and the qualifications for the position.

May 21: The board appoints members to the advisory committee.

July 16: The board unanimously accepts the committee's recommendation to ask the voters to make the position of police chief an appointed, rather than elected, position.

Aug. 20: The board unanimously approves an ordinance providing for a ballot measure allowing the city to appoint its chief. Perryville residents will vote on the measure Nov. 5.