FERRIDAY — A day after the Ferriday Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to keep Arthur Lewis as the town’s police chief, Lewis has been suspended by the mayor for 30 days without pay for administrative issues.

Lewis, who said he had a family emergency to take care of, confirmed the suspension but did not add any comment.

Mayor Sherrie Jacobs said Wednesday the suspension is surrounding administrative issues at Ferriday Police Department.

“Directives were not followed, which is clearly insubordination. My primary concern is the safety of my officers and the people of Ferriday,” she said. “We are working hard to smooth out problems, so Ferriday can continue moving forward.”

Alderman Glenn Henderson said Wednesday his hope was that the board could sit down with the mayor and Lewis to resolve the issues.

“The mayor has basically refused that,” Henderson said. “I think it has gone beyond professional and gotten personal — you can’t operate a city like that.”

The police department under Lewis does have issues, Henderson said. The issues relate to different personalities at the station conflicting he said.

“Do I think Chief Lewis has been the best chief? No,” Henderson said. “Is it to the point to where I am going to get rid of the chief? We are not treating him right.”

Henderson said the town is attempting to go to the firing stage before discussing concerns with Lewis and giving him an opportunity to correct, which is unfair to Lewis.

“That is not how you run a business,” Henderson said. “That is not how we want our city to be run.”

Other Ferriday aldermen could not be reached for comment.

Before voting to keep Lewis Tuesday, alderwoman Gloria Lloyd expressed concern about Jacobs’ lack of communication on any potential issues surrounding Lewis at the board meeting, and she said Jacobs was disrespecting the board and also the residents of Ferriday.

Jacobs had previously suspended Lewis in December following an incident at the department during which three employees — two officers and a dispatcher — were fired.

At the time, Jacobs declined to disclose the circumstances surrounding Lewis’ suspension, and refused again to publically talk about it Tuesday after aldermen asked her.

While Lewis was suspended previously, Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office senior deputy John Cowan was brought on as a consultant to temporarily head the department.

Jacobs did not comment on whether Cowan would be brought back on to fill in during Lewis’ latest suspension.