The City of Lexington quickly moved past the tenure of Troy Sims following his dismissal Wednesday night as police chief, elevating interim chief Josh Coen to the permanent role.

City administrator Shawnna Funderburk says Coen was brought in as interim chief last month, when Sims was placed on leave.

Funderburk says Coen was born and raised in Lexington and previously worked for the police department before joining the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. As for Wednesday’s 7-1 vote to terminate former chief Sims, Funderburk said complaints about Sims’ conduct had been collecting months before Funderburk became Lexington’s city administrator.

Funderburk says Sims was placed on leave August 14th after efforts to address his conduct were unsuccessful. She adds that the city could have supplied even more justification for their decision to dismiss Sims.

At Wednesday night’s hearing, Sims’ attorney Doug Carter argued that none of the city’s charges against Sims justified termination. Carter has indicated Sims’ intent to file a court challenge to his termination.