Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III, who has been on leave from the department, is no longer working for the agency, according to the Metropolitan Council.

Morales was on paid administrative leave, effective Aug. 9. As of Monday, he was no longer an employee of the department.

A spokeswoman of the Metropolitan Council, of which Metro Transit is a service, said they couldn’t provide more information because of data practices law.

Metro Transit Police Capt. Joseph Dotseth, who has been serving as as interim chief, will continue “during this transition,” according to a message sent Monday to employees.

The Met Council is still determining whether it will conduct a national search for the next chief or what the process will involve.

The Met Council announced in January 2023 that it selected Morales to lead the Metro Transit Police Department after a national search. He was previously first deputy police commissioner in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He served most of his career at the New York City Police Department.

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