Pelham police chief says he was suspended in retaliation for expressing concerns about city manager

Suspended Pelham Police Chief Ed Delmore says city officials retaliated against him after he raised concerns about the city manager.

Delmore was placed on administrative leave last week without a public explanation as to why.

Delmore held a news conference in the police department’s south parking lot Sunday to chronicle the events he said led to his suspension.

He said it was an effort to clear his name.

“I’ve been involved in something disappointing over the last few weeks,” Delmore said.

“Although I speak to you today as a private citizen, most of the events took place when I was Chief of Police for the City of Pelham. »

The chief said he was placed on leave, with no fault cited, because he reported what he said was concerning behavior by City Manager Gretchen DiFante.

“Reasonable people see a police chief publicly placed on administrative leave and assume that chief did something wrong, that there is an investigation underway and that there are irregularities,” he said.

“And I understand that,” Delmore said. “When I see these things, this is also the first place I go.”

DiFante did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday.

In response to an email, AL.com received word that DiFante is currently out of the office on vacation.

Gina Womack, the city’s public information officer, declined to comment on the chief’s allegations.

Delmore said that in nearly five decades in law enforcement, he had never been disciplined before.

He shared a copy of his performance evaluation completed by DiFante on June 6, which he said was the most glowing evaluation he had ever received.

“Ed is one of Alabama’s most respected police chiefs, and his influence extends far beyond our state’s borders and others seek him out for his expertise,” DiFante wrote in the annual performance review shared by Delmore.

“All department heads are expected to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, and Ed certainly does,” the evaluation said.

“The direction of his compass is always clear.”

According to Delmore, he and Deputy Chief Kevin Davis met with DiFante on Sept. 1 for a routine year-end budget transfer.

The chief said he expressed concern to the mayor about the interaction with DiFante.

On Sept. 22, Delmore said, DiFante asked to meet with him after speaking with the mayor the day before.

Delmore said DiFante brought human resources director Tracy Hill to the meeting.

Delmore said he expressed concerns about DiFante’s behavior and Hill said she would oversee an investigation.

Delmore said he then requested an independent investigation, citing a subordinate’s failure to investigate a superior.

Delmore was then placed on leave on Sept. 24 with no fault cited, he said.

Delmore also said he was given an “unconstitutional demand” that he could not speak publicly about the situation.

According to Delmore, the mayor and Smith met with police command Friday afternoon.

Later Friday evening, Deputy City Manager Justin Smith confirmed to media that Delmore had been placed on leave.

Delmore said he wanted to clear his name.

“If what they are doing is fair and impartial, what they have done is as hypocritical as the Harper Valley PTA,” he said.

“This kind of action has a deterrent effect,” Delmore said.

“What the city is sending is that if you report, as you are required to do, bad behavior on the part of your superior, you are the one who will suffer the consequences.”

“You are the one whose name and face are going to be published, you are the one whose reputation is constantly questioned,” he said.

“What an incredible injustice this is.”

Delmore was hired as Pelham’s chief on March 31, 2025 and was sworn in on April 7, 2025.

Before he was hired as chief, DiFante hired him in 2019 as a consultant to interview candidates for police chief, he said. In 2023, he was hired again to screen and interview candidates for the position of police chief.

He has been in law enforcement for 47 years.