Urbana Police Chief Bryant Seraphin announced today that he would resign his position effective March 25, 2022.  At just 50 years old, it is likely that Seraphin has already acquired a new position at a different department, though those details are not yet known. 

Seraphin’s departure would appear to be a continuation of the exodus of the underwhelming and uncooperative police command staff chosen by Mayor Diane Marlin.

In January 2021, Urbana Police Lieutenant Joel Sanders announced his Urbana resignation, also indicating an end date in March.  Sanders had given the Urbana City Council the impression that he was gearing up to run “One-Door”, which was a program designed to change first responses to mental health issues.  In reality, Sanders had already acquired a new position as Police Chief for Humboldt, Iowa.  The One-Door Program completely fell apart shortly after.

Seraphin’s departure will likely mean that a number of allegations of misconduct, such as his deceiving the City Council and the public about Use of Force Reviews, and his failure to recognize misconduct and issue discipline in a highly publicized violent arrest, and his efforts in refusing to accept valid police complaints, will go forever unanswered.

Mayor Marlin has indicated that she will appoint the current Deputy Chief of Police, Richard Surles, to be Interim Chief, and that a nationwide search will be performed for a new Chief of Police candidate. 

Surles, who is currently being sued for coercing witnesses and falsifying evidence in a case that wrongfully put two men in jail for a year, will not apply for the Chief of Police position.