Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has put the city’s police chief on administrative leave until further notice.

Chief Wendell Major, who Newton appointed in 2021 to head the city’s police, was placed on leave at the close of business Wednesday.

The mayor said it is against the city’s policy to discuss personnel matters and would say only that Sgt. Cynthia Morrow will service as interim chief following Major’s suspension.

Major told AL.com that he has been suspended on allegations that he disobeyed an order to issue bond for a person arrested on domestic violence.

The magistrate did not issue a bond, he said, and it’s not up to the police chief or anyone in his department to do so.

“The court determines who gets in jail and the court determines who gets out and when,’’ Major said.

Major said the discord between he and the mayor began late last year when Councilman Tommy Bryant was arrested for punching the mayor following a contentious council meeting.

The altercation between Bryant and Newton, who have been at odds since Wayman was elected as the city’s first Black mayor, happened in the parking lot of Tarrant City Hall.

The chief in court documents chronicled the events that led up to the altercation, which included sexually-charges statements reportedly made by the mayor to Bryant about Bryant’s wife.

“I’ll be clear. I noticed the change shortly after I arrested (Bryant) where I had to give evidence that wasn’t very flattering of the mayor,’’ Major said. “Since then, our relationship has been almost non-existent.”

“I think the mayor is spiraling out of control. I think the mayor is in crisis,’’ Major said. “He’s lashing out at everybody he thinks isn’t on his side.”

Newton will discuss the suspension with the city council at Monday night’s regular meeting. The council must take a vote whether to substantiate the allegations against Major. The matter could end up in the hands of the Jefferson County Personnel Board.

“I told the council and the mayor when they hired me that I will enforce the law without fear or favor and that’s what I intend to do until they no longer want my services,’’ the chief said.

“When everybody looks at the facts and the allegations objectively,’’ Major said, “they’ll find that my commitment to the law is unchanged.”