Tea mayor says police force is still solid

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TEA (AP) — The mayor of the South Dakota city of Tea says it still has a solid police department in the wake of the resignations of the police chief and an officer.

Mayor John Lawler says the city of about 3,800 people is safe. He says officials have begun the process of searching for a new chief. An acting chief has been named in the meantime.

Former Chief Brian Ketterhagen and Officer James Klimple resigned last week. The state Attorney General's Office is investigating them but officials haven't said why. They have said the probe is not connected with a federal lawsuit filed against Ketterhagen in Wyoming, where he is accused of withholding evidence in a case in which a man was wrongfully convicted of murder. Ketterhagen has denied that.

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