Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert was placed on administrative leave Monday.

The announced was made by Mayor Steven L. Reed.

“The reason for the leave will be announced when the matter is concluded,’’ according to the statement released by a city spokeswoman.

Albert was hired in spring of 2022 with more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement.

At the time, he served as Commander of the Special Operations Division for the New Orleans Police Department.

During his tenure in New Orleans, he held several key leadership positions, including Deputy Chief of Field Operations, the largest Bureau within New Orleans Police Department, Commander of NOPD Crime laboratory, and commander of criminal investigations division for homicide.

Albert twice served as deputy superintendent for two different administrations.

Albert earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Southern University at New Orleans and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Albert is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Internal Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police Executive Research Forum.

In February, a former Montgomery police officer went public with claims she was discriminated against for not having an affair with Albert, according to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing.

It was not immediately clear if that complaint is linked to Albert’s suspension.

Rene Helton, represented by attorney Mickey McDermott, filed an EEOC complaint against Albert in 2023 claiming discrimination based on gender.

Chip Hill, chief of staff for Mayor Steven Reed, released this statement to AL.com at the time: “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, it is very important that no one jumps to any conclusion until all of the facts are made known.”

According to the EEOC complaint, Helton beginning in September 2022 through March 2023 confided in Albert about problems she was having.

Those problems included challenges she faced from conflicting guidance in using her patrol car to pick up her children from school and hostility she was experiencing from certain departmental supervisors.

“Upon concluding that Helton would not engage him in a physical/romantic relationship, Albert unilaterally and for apparent punitive reasons, placed Helton under a supervisor that was hostile to her and from whom Albert promised to protect Helton,’’ the complaint states.

The complaint states that department began termination proceedings against Helton in June 2023 after she was the subject of a disciplinary investigation triggered by an anonymous complaint.

The compliant alleged Helton used her patrol car to pick up her children from school. The termination proceedings also claimed insubordination.

“Chief Albert had previously expressed support for Helton in her dealings, but once he understood that Helton would not consent to a sexual relationship with the married Albert, Chief Albert informed Helton as much and foreshadowed the retaliatory acts that are the subject of this charge of discrimination,’’ the complaint states.

The complaint included multiple screenshots of reported text messages between Albert and Helton that were flirtatious and sexual in nature.