N Carolina police department put on leave to return to duty

BOLIVIA, N.C. – A North Carolina police department that was put on paid leave when its then-chief was arrested is set to return to duty.

Southport police Chief Todd Coring tells The StarNews of Wilmington that officers will be back on patrol Monday. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has been handling patrol duties since July when then-Chief Gary Lee Smith was arrested on corruption charges.

Smith and Lt. Mike Simmons are accused of working a second job with a trucking company while on duty. Smith was indicted in September on charges including felony conspiracy to obtain property under false pretenses. Both were fired last month.

The entire police department was put on paid leave during a city investigation into the allegations.

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Information from: The StarNews, http://starnewsonline.com