Charlottesville police chief resigns amid criticism over response to white supremacist rally

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The police chief of Charlottesville, U.S. state of Virginia, announced his immediate retirement Monday, amid criticism of the police response to a violent white supremacist rally over the summer.

Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas' retirement was "effective immediately," according to a release from the department.

"I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to protect and serve a community I love so dearly," Thomas said in the release.

He didn't specify the reason for his immediate retirement.

Thomas' decision to step down came after an independent report criticized the law enforcement's response to the rally held by white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other far-right groups in the historic university town in August.

The report, released about two weeks ago after an investigation led by former U.S. Attorney Tim Heaphy, found police were slow in their response to violent clashes between white nationalists and their rival demonstrators.

Heaphy said Thomas took a "misguidedly passive" approach to quelling the violence that erupted on Charlottesville streets both before and after authorities declared the "United the Right" rally at Emancipation Park unlawful and ordered the crowds dispersed.

A 32-year-old woman was killed and 19 others were injured when a car plowed into a crowd of people who were peacefully protesting the white nationalists. The driver, a neo-Nazi activist, was charged with first-degree murder last week.

Heaphy's report also found that there was a lack of coordination between local and state law enforcement when the violence broke out.

Thomas was appointed to police chief in 2016. He had served in law enforcement for 27 years. Enditem