SUMMERDALE — The town of Summerdale is accepting applications for a new police chief.

The search is under way after Eddie Ingram resigned from the position on Friday. As previously reported, that resignation was spurred by his learning that Montgomery Circuit Judge Charles Price affirmed the revocation of his Alabama Police Certification, which had been imposed by the Alabama Police Officers Standards and Training Commission last May.

“We regret that we had to accept his resignation,” Summerdale Mayor David Wilson said at Monday’s Town Council meeting.

Ingram was originally placed on leave last July after a hearing with APOSTC, which regulates law-enforcement officers throughout the state. Last May, Ingram told Gulf Coast Newspapers that the investigation centered around the first few weeks after he took over the Summerdale position in June of 2011, during which time he was getting acclimated with the state commission’s system. The investigation focused on whether he intentionally entered misinformation into the state commission’s computer system, particularly two incidents, one of which was the false entry of two volunteer reserve officers as town employees. The other issue was whether Ingram did not follow proper procedure when re-qualifying for firearm certification. Ingram said that while he and his fellow officers were under-going the certification, he asked one of them to sign a form, witnessing that he had followed the process.

In July, APOSTC ruled against Ingram and ordered the revocation of hislaw-enforcement certification. Subsequently, he was placed on administrative leave from the Summerdale Police Department. Despite that ruling, Alabama Probate Judge Charles Price intervened on Ingram’s behalf in August by granting him a stay and regional order, allowing him to return to work. However, Price’s action still didn’t change the APOSTC ruling. Last week, Price reversed his decision and backed APOSTC.

Ingram said he plans to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court of Civil Appeals. But because the length of the procedure is uncertain, he opted to resign his position.

After announcing Ingram’s resignation, Wilson touted his 22 months of service in Summerdale.

“Chief Ingram did bring a high level of standard and integrity this town has never had before,” he said, adding that Ingram also added equipment and training to the town’s police force.

With that in mind, the mayor said those standards will continue.

“I encourage the citizens of Summerdale to have confidence in the police department,” Wilson said. “We feel confident in our police department, that they’ll carry on their duties.

He explained that until a permanent replacement for Ingram is selected, Summerdale Police Sgt. Hugh Bohannon will serve as interim police chief. In addition the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department and Foley Police Department will also be on hand to assist when needed.

Applications for Summerdale Police chief will be taken until May 8.