Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine said he still has questions after hearing some of the findings in a special counsel investigation into his grievances with the city. In an interview Tuesday, Prine revealed shocking details about what he said began his long, "heartbreaking" road into forced retirement.
The focus of the special counsel investigation was a contract with 321z Insights LLC, the chain of command with the Gulf Coast Technology Center and its use of resources, a breakdown in relations between the city administration and Chief Prine, and grievances expressed by Prine.
Investigator Bill Athenas found only one issue regarding a contract with 321z Insights, LLC, a company hired to review Operation Echo Stop, a crime prevention initiative that uses technology, such as ShotSpotter, to fight crime.
Athenas concluded that Gulf Coast Technology Center commander Kevin Levy violated city policy by altering the signature page of the 321z contract and that he tampered with governmental records.
SEE ALSO: Gulf Coast Technology Center Commander fired; Attorney says Levy used as 'scapegoat'
Mayor Sandy Stimpson disagreed with the "characterizations around the drafting process" of the contract but said any allegation of a crime or misconduct is taken seriously. Soon after Stimpson released the statement, Levy was fired. The findings were sent to the Alabama Ethics Commission, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood, and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
Prine told 1819 News that the findings should also be sent to the Alabama Attorney General's Office. Stimpson previously sent information to Attorney General Steve Marshall, but the AG's office found no wrongdoing.
Prine also said he is unclear about how the investigators concluded there was no chain of command issue between himself and the Gulf Coast Technology Center because command staff officers were not interviewed. He said even Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch has spoken publicly about communication issues that led to deputies having to give MPD officers intelligence information due to the center's slow response.
"So, if the investigator did not interview those outside of the administration, I think it would be somewhat hard to determine whether or not there was a chain of command issue," Prine explained. "And that's so unfortunate because it still leaves a cloud of suspicion over whether or not it was a thoroughly complete or unbiased investigation."
Prine said he wanted it to be known that the third topic, the breakdown of communication between him and the city administration, was not an allegation he made.
"That is Sandy Stimpson's allegation, and that is that I didn't want to work with the director, the chief of staff, I didn't trust the mayor, and that there was a communication breakdown between me and the tech center, and that was absolutely an allegation from Sandy," said Prine. "It was never my allegation."
"… So I'll take number three as a win because the attorney did state that he didn't find any wrongdoing," Prine continued.
As for his grievances, Prine said one was on the chief of staff in 2023, and the other was on the public safety director in 2024. The 2023 grievance was a verbal grievance, and the special counsel found that the claim was not in the scope of the investigation. However, the special counsel concluded no policy violation or criminal wrongdoing on the 2024 grievance.
"But I have to argue, in regards to both of those grievances," Prine told 1819 News. "And I have confirmed today that, unfortunately, the special investigator did not interview the witnesses that I submitted during both of my interviews with him."
Prine said again he was disappointed that the people he mentioned were not brought in for testimony.
However, Prine revealed the exact reason he believes the administration began to try to find ways to get rid of him.
"The truth of the matter is this all started when the chief of staff asked me to do something that was potentially criminal for me had I went along with it," Prine revealed. "And so, you know, I was placed in a no-win situation had I done what he asked me to do and that is to be a source to leak grand jury information on the Dallas case to the public."
Prine claimed chief of staff James Barber asked him to leak autopsy findings to the media before that information was legally made public.
"As the chief of police, being under subpoena from the district attorney's office, that would have been a criminal matter certainly for me and at the least an unethical matter," Prine said. "And so had I done it, it was criminal."
"I didn't do it, and it put me at odds with the administration," he continued. "And I had no choice ultimately but to file the grievance. So that was a slippery slope, but we knew that ultimately it was going to come to this."
Prine said he was willing to leave office peacefully until the city presented him with a severance package that included a non-disparagement clause and threatened to disparage his reputation if he did not comply.
Stimpson used words such as "disgruntled," "misdirected" and "reckless" when referring to Prine following the release of the report. He went as far as saying he wished he would've fired Prine sooner. Prine said he has regrets himself.
"The only regret I have is I wish I would not have taken the position as chief of police under this administration," Prine told 1819 news. "And the mayor is absolutely correct. Hindsight is 20/20. Unfortunately, I forfeited a stellar career because of what I feel like is an administration that uses bully tactics and intimidation to do the things they want to do, and you're going to comply and go along, or you will no longer be employed here."
"I gave a lot of years to the City of Mobile, including being shot in the line of duty, only to be relieved of duty under these circumstances that were totally uncalled for," Prine continued. "And I think the mayor's statements are a reflection of his character and certainly not mine."
For now, Prine said he is moving on with his life.
"I'm effectively retired," he said. "And so not quite sure what I'm doing but I'm praying about it, certainly."
"But one thing for certain is my wife has me busy," he added. "I've probably been more busy the last two months than I had been the last two years but that's part of it. And so I just move forward. I'll be praying about it and let the Lord lead me on."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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