VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City commission unanimously approved the resignation of Police Chief Phil Hatcher during a regular board meeting on Tuesday, June 6th.

The announcement took a few people by surprise. Hatcher told the commission; he and his family reached this decision earlier this year.

City Administrator Gwen Crawford said the resignation goes into effect August 4th. She thanked Hatcher for his service to the city of Valley City.

City Attorney Carl Martineck said the search process for a new chief of police will begin immediately.

Phil Hatcher has been the acting police chief since December of 2016.