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Gallup fires police chief after year of legal disputes

Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick told The Gallup Independent last week that police Chief Phillip Hart is no longer a Gallup employee but declined to give details.
The termination comes as Hart and the city of Gallup have been embroiled in legal disputes for about a year.
Hart disputed the city's policy of allowing community service aides to pick up and commit intoxicated residents to the detoxification center.
He also said that the city violated the Whistleblower Protection Act by placing him on administrative leave around August and prohibiting him from fulfilling his duties after he sought clarification on the city's detox policy.
Hart did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.