KINLOCH • City officials have voted to fire four officers, City Manager Eric Mason said Thursday.

Mason confirmed Thursday that Sgt. Edward Clark, Sgt. Jonathan Schnable, Sgt. Michael Blankenship and Officer Virgil Taylor have been dismissed. Mason said he could not discuss reasons for the dismissals, citing rules regarding personnel matters. He denied the dismissals were related to an earlier story that he was given his current job despite being on parole until 2014 for writing bad checks.

Mason said the city's aldermen voted during a closed session Thursday to dismiss Clark, Blankenship and Taylor; Schnable's termination was voted upon in a meeting last week.

Billy Stark of the Laborers Local 42, which represents one of the terminated officers, said the four were not given a reason for their dismissal.

The move leaves the city with just six paid officers. Prior to the terminations, Mason said, reserve officers were approached about taking the place of the now-dismissed officers.

When contacted at home, Mayor Andolora Marshall said she was not allowed to give out any information.

The city has seen its share of controversy in recent months. Former Mayor Keith Conway resigned late last summer after pleading guilty to charges he used tens of thousands of dollars from city funds to pay for vacation travel and personal expenses. He received a 21-month federal prison sentence and is required to pay back $62,429.