City Of Pawhuska Interviewing Candidates For New Police Chief

Osage and Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher said Pawhuska Police Chief Nick Silva has been fired. 

City Manager Dave Neely said he can't comment on why he fired Silva but said the district attorney and the OSBI are still investigating the police department.

The Pawhuska Police Chief was recently suspended with pay while the police department was under investigation. 

Lorrie Hennesy has been named interim police chief.  

The city has already interviewed four people to replace Silva, and his attorney said she plans to appeal his termination.

Silva received a letter in the mail Monday from the city manager, notifying him he was fired.

Related Story: Pawhuska Police Department Under Investigation, Chief Suspended With Pay 

The OSBI said earlier this month agents are investigating allegations a police department employee mishandled a confidential informant.

The OSBI on Tuesday would only say this is still an active and open investigation.

Fisher said he does expect to file charges against Silva but said he can't say yet what those charges might be.

Silva's attorney, Shannon McMurray, said in a statement during a phone call, "We will appeal the termination and because the OSBI investigation is ongoing and incomplete, I have no comment other than if any charges are filed, we will fight it."

This isn't the first time Silva has been fired from Pawhuska's police department. After two months holding the position, Silva was fired last summer, then hired back on the job just a few days later. News On 6 was told back then the city managers who fired Silva weren't happy with the direction the department was going. Both the city manager and assistant city manager who fired Silva last summer later resigned.

The City of Pawhuska is still accepting applications for a new police chief.