Fairbanks Chief of Police Randall Aragon has resigned amid an ongoing conflict-of-interest investigation involving his personal security business.
Aragon turned in his resignation Thursday, and it became effective Friday, according to a release from the City of Fairbanks.
Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly formally accepted Aragon's resignation, the release says.
Matherly said in a phone interview that Aragon made the decision personally. He said Aragon told him that he thought he'd done good work in Fairbanks, but he wanted to move closer to family Outside. Aragon was serving as chief of the La Marque Police Department in La Marque, Texas, when he accepted the job in Alaska.
Aragon could not be reached for comment.
He was placed on paid leave Sept. 21, over a claim that he told a business owner seeking a security evaluation of her establishment by police that officers were too busy to conduct a thorough appraisal — but that his business could take the job for $600.
Following the allegation, the city opened two investigations into Aragon's conduct: one overseen by City of Fairbanks human resources director Angela Foster-Snow and another ordered by the Fairbanks City Council.
Former Fairbanks Mayor John Eberhart made the initial decision to put Aragon on leave, but he reinstated him on Oct. 19, just prior to the Eberhart's departure as head of the Interior city. The investigation was not yet finished when the former mayor made his decision.
[Fairbanks police chief resumes duty amid conflict-of-interest investigation]
Eberhart lost a bid for re-election against Matherly, who previously served as a councilman and called for an independent body to investigate the allegation against the police chief. Aragon was placed on leave a second time on Oct. 21.
The investigation is continuing. Matherly said there is no further action the city plans to take against Aragon, regardless of the investigation's findings.
"We just want to bring it to fruition," the mayor said. The city will examine the findings of the investigation and compare them to current policies to determine if any changes are necessary for the rules regarding moonlighting city officials, he said.
Deputy Chief Brad Johnson will continue to serve as acting police chief. Johnson, along with Deputy Chief Eric Jewkes, have years of experience and the ability to lead the department, Matherly said.
Matherly said he spent much of his first week as mayor working with the Fairbanks Police Department. Its officers are focused more on the death of fellow officer Sgt. Allen Brandt than the shake-up in leadership, he said.
An internal promotion can lead to a new chief, Matherly said. He's still learning what actions are allowed as mayor, but Matherly said he believes there is talent at the department to tap, rather than hiring from elsewhere.