Selma Assistant Police Chief Natasha Fowlkes resigns, despite being cleared of wrongdoing

Selma Police Assistant Chief of Police Natasha Fowlkes has resigned from the police department.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. on Tuesday released a statement saying she has resigned from her position after being placed on administrative leave for accused illegal wrongdoing in mid June, but added Fowlkes was cleared of those allegations.

Fowlkes was serving as Selma police department's top cop at the time of her suspension after she took over for Chief Kenta Fulford who was also placed on administrative leave by Perkins a month before.

Fulford's leave was due to complaints of communication issues with the city schools superintendent as well as other administrative complaints. Fulford returned to duty on June 26 after a hearing failed to gain City Council vote to remove him from office.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Perkins said a staffer within the police department accused Fowlkes of "an illegal activity inside of the department." SPD Internal Affairs Capt. Johnny King determined the allegation warranted further investigation and Dallas County Sheriff Department was tapped to conduct it.

According to Perkins, on June 27, the sheriff department, along with District Attorney Robert Turner, concluded it "was not a criminal offense" and that was confirmed on July 2 by Dallas County Sheriff Department Sgt. Kenny Harden.

Perkins said Fowlkes was entitled to regain her position, but she decided "it was in the best interest of the City of Selma, and her and her family, that she steps down as Assistant Chief of Police."

"I want to thank her for services rendered throughout her law enforcement career with the Selma Police Department and hope for her a successful future," Perkins said, finishing the statement by saying he considered the matter closed and "we now continue moving forward."