Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has announced Police Chief James T. Akagi has been placed on administrative leave. Watson released a statement saying, “Recent letters to the media and others were reviewed and have been a catalyst for concern.”

The letters, which were sent to council members and the media by several former officers, were said to allege Akagi violated policy and created a hostile environment.

Watson said many of those statements were found to be false, while others are being investigated. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Robin Smith has been named acting chief of police.

A former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Agaki has headed the Oak Ridge Police Department since July 2011. A statement released by the city indicates he came to Oak Ridge with 28 years’ law-enforcement experience.

Watson is currently in China and city officials said they would not release any additional information until he returns in early August.