Fired Simpsonville police chief was not good fit

Simpsonville Mayor Perry Eichor said in a news release Saturday that fired Police Chief Keith Grounsell was not a good fit for the city.

The Simpsonville City Council voted 5-2 Friday night to fire Grounsell, who took the job only three months ago.

Grounsell said the decision to fire him was because he tried to clean up the department and butted heads with the assistant chief.

"For the citizens, it's an injustice," Grounsell said after the vote. "A man comes in with strong ethical character and tries to adhere to those values and won't compromise (his) ethics. They voted me out of office."

Eichor said in the release that a review of Grounsell's performance prompted the Council's decision to fire the chief.

Lt. Steve Moore was appointed as interim chief, Eichor said in the release. He said the search for a permanent replacement will being in the near future.